Hollywood superstar Clooney urges Biden to drop out of presidential race

In a New York Times op-ed published Wednesday, Hollywood superstar and longtime Democrat George Clooney urged U.S. President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, pointing to Biden's shaky debate performance last month, reported Xinhua.

Explaining why he believed it was time for Biden to withdraw from the race, Clooney, who has long been a fund-raiser for the Democratic Party, noted: "This is about age. Nothing more. But also nothing that can be reversed."

"I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him..." Clooney penned, "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."

He also warned that if Biden refused to step aside in time, the party would face a huge collapse in November's elections.

"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," he said bluntly. "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."

"The dam has broken," Clooney expressed. "We can put our heads in the sand and pray for a miracle in November, or we can speak the truth."

The actor's note came just two days after Biden sent a rare letter directly to both House and Senate Democrats. In it, he made clear that he is not dropping out of this race under scoring division brewing within the party.

Hollywood is a major source of campaign funding for many candidates. The entertainment industry comprises numerous wealthy individuals who can make substantial donations. These funds are critical for campaign activities such as advertising, organizing events, and mobilizing voters.

Just three weeks ago, Hollywood donors poured 30 million U.S. dollars into Biden's campaign at a star-studded fundraiser hosted by Jeffrey Katzenberg, a movie mogul and co-chair of the Biden campaign, and Clooney took part in the event. However, Biden's recent debate debacle has spurred a crisis, with some insiders accusing Katzenberg of misleading them about the president's age-related fitness for office.

While many of Biden's celebrity backers continue their support, some previously fervent supporters, like Damon Lindelof and Barry Diller, have ceased donations to Biden's re-election efforts, signaling a potential shift in Hollywood's political landscape.