George Clooney, an American actor, director, producer, and prominent fundraiser for the Democratic Party, has issued a call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the US presidential race.
According to Clooney while Biden has won many battles in his career, “the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.”
Clooney reflected on his recent encounter with Biden at a fundraising event, stating, “It was ‘devastating to say it,’ but the Joe Biden he met at a fundraising event three weeks ago was not the Biden of 2010. ‘He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020.'” Clooney further commented, “He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,” suggesting that Biden’s performance has visibly declined.
Clooney’s concerns extend to the broader Democratic Party leadership. He urged, “Our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn’t see what we just saw.” He firmly stated, “This is about age. Nothing more. We are not going to win in November with this president.” Clooney added that his concerns align with those of “every” member of Congress with whom he had spoken.
Another Hollywood star and fundraiser, Michael Douglas, echoed Clooney’s worries, stating, “I am worried not this week or next week, but let’s say next year.” He praised Biden’s past performance but emphasized the need for a candidate to be “articulate” in a “combative” political era.
Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker and an influential voice among Democrats, commented on Biden’s candidacy, stating, “I want him to do whatever he decides to do. It’s up to the president to decide if he’s going to run. We are all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short.” Pelosi also mentioned, “I said to everyone – let’s just hold off. Whatever you’re thinking, either tell somebody privately, but you don’t have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week. But I am very proud of the president.”
Despite this, Biden has insisted on continuing as the Democratic Party’s candidate to beat Trump in the upcoming election. His campaign pointed out that Biden had just arrived in Los Angeles from Italy, where he attended the G7 summit when he participated in the fundraising event hosted by Clooney.
Some prominent Democrats, however, remain supportive of Biden. For example, Gavin Newsom, the California governor, stated he was still “all in” with Mr. Biden. The Congressional Black Caucus and progressive House members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have also publicly backed Mr. Biden, with Chuck Schumer, the leading Democrat in the Senate, saying, “I’m with Joe,” though some reports suggest he may be open to other options privately.
