Actor and longtime Democratic donor George Clooney has reaffirmed his decision to pen a July 2024 op-ed urging former President Joe Biden to step aside, stating unequivocally that he has no regrets. During a recent interview, Clooney maintained that his call for the party to open a primary was rooted in a belief that the Democratic nominee needed to be “battle-tested.”
However, Clooney also acknowledged that the selection of Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s standard-bearer was, in his words, “a mistake.” He argued that Harris faced the difficult assignment of running while also defending her prior record—“It’s very hard to do,” he said—making her campaign especially challenging. Clooney described the decision to place her in that position as “quite honestly” a misstep.
Reflecting on the op-ed’s impact, Clooney highlighted that his motivation was civic duty, driven by concerns for the party’s direction and the nation’s future. He praised Biden’s eventual decision to withdraw as a “selfless act,” saying it demonstrated leadership in relinquishing power when the stakes were highest. Despite backlash, including a heated response from Hunter Biden, Clooney insisted his actions were in alignment with his values and comfort with facing the consequences of speaking out.