George Clooney: 'Love Joe Biden. But We Need A New Nominee'

LOS ANGELES, CA —Just weeks after co-hosting a record-setting downtown Los Angeles fundraiser for Joe Biden's reelection campaign, actor and major Democratic Party donor George Clooney said Wednesday the president needs to step aside amid concerns about his age and ability to run the country.

"I love Joe Biden," Clooney wrote in an essay published Wednesday in The New York Times. "As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he's won many of the battles he's faced.

"But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It's devastating to say it, but 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. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."

On June 15, Clooney co-hosted a star-studded fundraiser for Biden at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The Biden campaign said the event raised a record-setting $28 million. In addition to Clooney, actress Julia Roberts was on hand for the event, along with Jack Black, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jason Bateman and Kathryn Hahn. Jimmy Kimmel moderated a discussion between Biden and former President Barack Obama.

Elected officials in attendance included Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Reps. Nanette Barragán, D-San Pedro; Tony Cárdenas, D-Pacoima, Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, Grace Napolitano, D-Norwalk, and Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles.

But questions about Biden's stamina and presidential credentials have heightened following his woeful performance in a CNN debate against presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump. Biden has worked in the days since the debate to reassure Democrats and voters about his commitment and ability to run the country.

Bass, a longtime Biden supporter, issued a brief statement Wednesday reiterating her backing of the president.

"I was on a call with the president and mayors from across the country last night," Bass wrote on X. "I'm supporting our nominee, President Joe Biden."

Newsom, whose name often surfaces as a potential presidential candidate, has continued to steadfastly support Biden. Newsom was in New Hampshire earlier this week on the Biden campaign trail, insisting that Biden "is going to be our nominee."

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According to The Hill, Newsom spoke to Biden's campaign staff on a phone call this week, pumping up Biden's reelection bid.

"Every single event we had, every single stop we had, we exceeded expectations in terms of the number of people that showed up," Newsom said, according to The Hill. "They're not giving into the cynicism. They're not giving into the fear. They're not giving into the anxiety. They're showing up because they care. They care about the work you're doing. They care about this president."

Clooney wrote in his essay that he remains unconvinced about Biden's stamina.

"Was he tired? Yes. A cold? Maybe. But our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn't see what we just saw. We're all so terrified by the prospect of a second Trump term that we've opted to ignore every warning sign. The George Stephanopoulos interview only reinforced what we saw the week before. As Democrats, we collectively hold our breath or turn down the volume whenever we see the president, who we respect, walk off Air Force One or walk back to a mic to answer an unscripted question.

"... This is about age. Nothing more. But also nothing that can be reversed. We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won't win the House, and we're going to lose the Senate. This isn't only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor that I've spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly."

Clooney did not offer an opinion on who should replace Biden as the Democratic candidate, but said there should be a process for potential candidates to make a case for themselves.

"Let's hear from Wes Moore and Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear and J.B. Pritzker and others," Clooney wrote. "Let's agree that the candidates not attack one another but, in the short time we have, focus on what will make this country soar. Then we could go into the Democratic convention next month and figure it out."

Actor Rob Reiner, another major Democratic Party supporter, called on Biden to step aside over the weekend. In response to Clooney's essay, Reiner wrote on X, "My friend George Clooney has clearly expressed what many of us have been saying. We love and respect Joe Bide. We acknowledge all he has done for our country. But Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside."

Another major figure in the party, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program Wednesday, suggesting that Biden -- despite his insistence about remaining in the race -- could still reconsider.

"It's up to the president to decide if he's going to run," she said. "We're all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short."

Pelosi declined on the show to explicitly endorse Biden, but called on other congressional members to "hold off" on making public statements about the incumbent.

"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," Pelosi said.

Biden is scheduled to attend a fundraiser in Laguna Beach on July 26.