George Clooney is getting involved in politics as he gears up for an upcoming movie reunion with Brad Pitt later this year.
In a recent article for the New York Times, Clooney urged President Biden to step down following his lackluster performance in the presidential debate against Donald Trump last month.
Expressing his admiration for Biden’s past accomplishments, Clooney expressed concern over the toll that time has taken on the president’s abilities, noting a noticeable change in his demeanor compared to previous years.
Clooney emphasized the urgent need for a new approach to the upcoming elections, highlighting the sentiments shared by various politicians he has spoken with privately.
Prior to this, Clooney hosted a successful fundraiser in Los Angeles for Biden, attended by a number of acclaimed Hollywood stars, raising a record-breaking $30 million for the campaign.
Reports also suggest that Clooney intervened on behalf of his wife, Amal Clooney, in a case involving Biden’s stance on the International Criminal Court’s pursuit of warrants against certain foreign leaders.
In his article, Clooney did not hold back his criticism of Trump, condemning his actions and labeling his campaign as a “revenge tour.”
In response, Trump lashed out at Clooney on Truth Social, questioning his credibility and belittling his work in Hollywood, Fox News reports.
Clooney’s venture into politics is not unfamiliar territory for him, but it precedes his upcoming return to the screen alongside his ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ co-star, Brad Pitt.
The movie, ‘Wolfs,’ depicts the pair as fixers hired to conceal crimes, reluctantly teaming up when their paths cross on a job. This marks their first on-screen reunion in 16 years, following their appearance together in 2008’s ‘Burn After Reading.’
This also marks Clooney’s first significant acting role since his involvement in ‘Ticket to Paradise’ in 2022, a romantic comedy featuring his fellow ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ collaborator, Julia Roberts. Additionally, he made a brief appearance in ‘The Flash’ last year and lent his voice to ‘IF’ this year.
In 2023, Clooney directed and produced ‘The Boys in the Boat,’ a film based on the true story of the University of Washington rowing team striving to compete in the 1936 Olympics.
The 63-year-old initially found success on TV, with roles on shows like ‘The Facts of Life’ and ‘Roseanne’ before landing a breakthrough part on ‘ER’ in 1994.
While on ‘ER,’ he took on his first significant film role in the horror-comedy-action flick ‘From Dusk Til Dawn,’ followed by the romantic movie ‘One Fine Day’ alongside Michelle Pfeiffer.
His filmography expanded with titles like ‘Batman & Robin,’ ‘Out of Sight,’ and ‘Three Kings.’
In 2001, he starred in ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ alongside Pitt, Roberts, Damon, and a star-studded ensemble, solidifying his status as a leading actor.
Clooney made his directorial debut in 2002 with ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.’
In 2005, he wrote, directed, and starred in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck,’ a film about journalist Edward R. Murrow challenging Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s fear-driven communist witch hunt.
It marked one of his initial forays into more overtly political filmmaking. At the 43rd New York Film Festival screening, Clooney expressed, ‘I believed it was a timely moment to address the manipulation of fear to suppress political dialogue.’
In 2006, he received three Oscar nominations, including best director and best original screenplay for ‘Good Night and Good Luck,’ and a nomination for best supporting actor for his role in ‘Syriana,’ based on a former CIA agent’s experiences in the Middle East.
Clooney won in the best supporting actor category for ‘Syriana’ and used his platform to comment on perceptions of Hollywood as being ‘disconnected’ at that time.
‘In Hollywood, we may sometimes seem a bit disconnected, but that’s not always a bad thing,’ he expressed to the audience. ‘We are known for bringing up important topics ahead of their time, such as AIDS and civil rights. This Academy, which awarded Hattie McDaniel an Oscar in 1939, has a history of being progressive. I take pride in being associated with this Academy and community, even if it means being out of touch. Thank you for this honor.’
Clooney has received best actor Oscar nominations for his roles in ‘Michael Clayton,’ ‘Up in the Air,’ and ‘The Descendants.’
Aside from acting, Clooney has been involved in writing, directing, and producing films like ‘Leatherheads,’ ‘The Ides of March,’ and ‘The Monuments Men.’
He was also involved in producing the best picture Oscar-winning film ‘Argo’ with Ben Affleck, who directed and starred in the film.
Throughout his time in Hollywood, Clooney openly supported Barack Obama in his presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012 and endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.
For his 2017 film, ‘Suburbicon,’ Clooney shared that he drew inspiration from the sense of anger prevailing in America following Trump’s campaign and election win.
‘Many of us feel angry, whether towards ourselves, the direction of the country, or the state of the world,’ he expressed to reporters at the Venice Film Festival.
