'Most Selfless Thing': George Clooney Lauds Biden's Decision To Quit Reelection Bid At Venice Film Festival

Hollywood actor George Clooney has praised US President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race as “the most selfless thing that anybody has done since George Washington.”

Clooney made these remarks during a presser at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, where he was promoting his new film Wolfs, co-starring Brad Pitt. His comments come after he urged Biden to step down in a New York Times op-ed titled “I Love Joe Biden, But We Need a New Nominee.”

In the essay published in July, Clooney expressed concerns about Biden’s ability to lead the Democratic Party to victory, citing the president’s age and recent performances that he felt were not up to par. He noted, “The Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe ‘big f—ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020.”

During the press conference, Clooney reflected on the impact of his op-ed, saying, “The person who should be applauded is the president, who did the most selfless thing that anybody has done since George Washington.” He stressed that the complexities surrounding Biden’s decision would not be remembered, but rather the courage it took for him to step aside for a “better way forward.”

Biden officially announced his withdrawal from the race on July 21, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. Clooney expressed pride in Biden’s leadership, saying, “President Biden has shown what true leadership is. He’s saving democracy once again”. Clooney’s op-ed had sparked significant discussion, as he pointed out that many Democratic leaders shared his concerns about Biden’s viability as a candidate.

He claimed that “every single one” of the senators and congress members he spoke with privately felt that the party would struggle to win the upcoming election with Biden at the helm. In the op-ed, Clooney acknowledged his long-standing support for Biden, highlighting his role in fundraising a record-breaking event that raised $30 million for Biden’s campaign. However, he reiterated that the challenge of age is one Biden cannot overcome.