George Clooney, who attended the premiere of The Boys in the Boat in Beverly Hills last December, made a public statement on Wednesday. He joined others in urging Joe Biden to withdraw from the U.S. presidential race.
Some key figures within the Democratic Party are urging President Joe Biden to reconsider his plans to run for re-election. This isn't just a small group of Democrats — some well-known supporters and donors are also voicing their concerns.
President Biden, at 81 years old, has been facing challenges in his bid for re-election, especially after a widely criticized debate against 78-year-old Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee. Both men are the oldest presidential candidates in U.S. history.
Recently, Hollywood actor George Clooney joined the chorus of voices calling for Biden to step aside. In an opinion piece published in The New York Times, Clooney expressed disappointment, withdrawing his support for Biden. He highlighted that Biden seemed different from the energetic leader people remember from previous years.
Clooney wrote, "It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I saw recently wasn't the same 'big F-ing deal' Biden from 2010, or even the Biden we knew in 2020. He was the same man we all saw at the debate."
The actor's comments have resonated widely, given his recent participation in a fundraiser for Biden. Political consultant David Axelrod, who advised former President Barack Obama, noted the impact of Clooney's critique, calling it "devastating."
Since the debate, Biden has resisted calls to step down. He's made appearances on major news outlets to reaffirm his readiness to compete against Trump in November.
However, opposition within the Democratic Party is growing. Nine House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to withdraw, and Senator Peter Welch of Vermont has become the first Democratic senator to do so, citing Biden's poor debate performance.
Commenting on the situation, Brian Stelter from Vanity Fair observed, "This criticism is likely to continue. It's a drumbeat that won't go away anytime soon."
Other prominent voices have also joined the call for Biden to step aside. Author Stephen King wrote that while Biden has been a good president, it's time for him to prioritize the country's interests and announce he won't run again.
Actor and director Rob Reiner, who had previously called for Biden to withdraw, reiterated his stance, emphasizing that Clooney's remarks echoed widespread sentiments within the party.
Damon Lindelof, co-creator of the TV series Lost, compared Biden to a tired baseball pitcher who needs to be replaced, urging donors to withhold funds until Biden exits the race.
Activist and filmmaker Abigail Disney has also added her voice to the growing chorus, urging Biden to end his re-election bid.
As pressure mounts from within his own party, Biden continues to face an uphill battle in his quest for re-election against Trump.
