Actor and filmmaker George Clooney has spoken again about his bold decision during the 2024 U.S. presidential race. In a recent interview with CBS’s Seth Doane, Clooney said he does not regret writing his New York Times op-ed urging then-President Joe Biden to step aside. He explained that his intention was to encourage the Democratic Party to hold a quick, open primary to find the strongest possible candidate against Donald Trump, who is now the current President of the United States.
Clooney said his move was not meant to criticize Biden personally but to help the party respond to a difficult political moment. According to him, there was growing concern about Biden’s ability to defeat Trump, and waiting too long to act could have put the entire Democratic campaign at risk. He added that public figures have a duty to speak honestly, even when their opinions might be unpopular or spark debate.
When asked if he would write the same op-ed again, Clooney replied with a firm “Yes.” He said the goal was to push for competition within the party and to ensure that voters had a real choice. For him, the op-ed was not an attack but a necessary call for the Democratic Party to act quickly and decisively.
Clooney on Kamala Harris and the Challenges She Faced
During the interview, Clooney also addressed what happened after President Biden withdrew from the race. He said that while he supported the idea of an open contest, he believed the decision to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris was, in his words, a “mistake.”
Clooney explained that Harris faced a uniquely difficult task. As Biden’s vice president, she was tied to his administration’s record, which made it hard for her to present herself as a fresh alternative. He said she was “put in an impossible position,” forced to defend policies she had once supported while also trying to define her own leadership style. This balance, he said, made her campaign especially challenging.
Despite his criticism, Clooney made it clear that he endorsed Harris once she became the nominee. He said that unity within the party was essential after Biden’s withdrawal and that supporting the chosen candidate was the right thing to do. However, he felt that the process moved too quickly and prevented other strong Democratic figures from entering the race, limiting voters’ options.
Clooney noted that his concerns were never about Harris personally but about timing and strategy. He said her candidacy reflected the difficult position the Democratic Party found itself in after Biden stepped aside.
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Aftermath of the 2024 Election
The 2024 presidential election ended with Donald Trump defeating Kamala Harris, returning him to the White House. Clooney’s earlier warning — that the Democrats risked losing if they did not act swiftly — became a major topic in post-election discussions. His op-ed, which had sparked both praise and criticism, was seen by many as one of the most significant public interventions of the campaign.
In the interview, Clooney said he still believes his op-ed was a necessary truth, not a political attack. He explained that his actions came from a sense of duty to be honest about what he saw happening within his party. He felt that staying silent would have been worse than speaking up.
Clooney added that he understood the controversy his comments caused but insisted that difficult conversations are often needed in politics. He said that sometimes being loyal to a cause means telling hard truths rather than avoiding them.
For Clooney, the 2024 election and its outcome showed how complex political loyalty can be. His reflections on Biden’s decision to withdraw, Harris’s difficult campaign, and Trump’s eventual victory continue to shape the discussion about how the Democratic Party handled one of the most unpredictable elections in recent history.
