George Clooney, the actor who was instrumental in former President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek re-election, recently voiced a positive message for President Donald Trump on television. This unexpected shift in tone came from one of the Democratic party’s most high-profile supporters in Hollywood.
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Clooney, 63, was a guest on CBS’s “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in New York, promoting his Broadway play “Good Night, and Good Luck.” During his appearance, he indirectly addressed Trump, saying, “Good for you. I hope you do well because our country needs it, and we will meet you in 3.5 years and see where we go next.”
This conciliatory message came after Clooney wrote a significant New York Times op-ed in July 2024 titled “I Love Joe Biden, But We Need a New Nominee.” The actor expressed his deep admiration for Biden’s political career and character in this piece, which many believe influenced Biden’s decision to step aside from the race.
In his op-ed, Clooney argued that Biden’s age and seeming decline in performance rendered him unelectable. He observed that Biden had changed since his 2010 and 2020 stints. This came weeks after Clooney hosted a $30 million fundraiser for Biden’s presidential campaign.
Clooney’s op-ed echoed the sentiments of many Democratic leaders, stating that, in private conversations, every senator, member of Congress, and governor he had spoken to agreed with his assessment. He argued that a new nominee would re-energize the Democratic party and re-engage disengaged voters.
The Biden campaign initially dismissed Clooney’s assessment. The former president had stayed at the fundraiser for over three hours after returning from the G7 summit, while Clooney only briefly appeared. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also commented, stating that the decision to run was the president’s alone and that time was running out.
However, on July 21, Biden withdrew from the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his preferred successor. Clooney immediately backed Harris, narrating campaign advertisements aimed at male voters.
Despite these efforts, Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, lost the Electoral College vote 312 to 226 to Trump and JD Vance. The popular vote was closer, with Trump-Vance receiving 77.3 million votes (49.8%) compared to Harris-Walz’s 75.01 million (48.3%).
During his appearance on the “Late Show,” Clooney discussed his history with Democratic politics. He reflected on past political wins and losses, emphasizing that these shifts are part of democracy. He jokingly referenced the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, questioning whether he should protest by storming the Capitol.
He then shared a personal anecdote about his seven-year-old son Alexander’s chess tournaments. Clooney explained that he teaches his son to treat losses as opportunities for improvement, a lesson he believes applies to politics as well.
Host Stephen Colbert responded to Clooney’s metaphor by knocking on his wooden desk, a gesture implying his hope for future elections. This was a reference to Trump’s controversial July 2024 campaign remark to Christian conservatives, suggesting that future elections might not be necessary if they voted for him.
Clooney emphasized the need for civility in politics, stating, “It’s part of democracy. There are people who agree and disagree, and most of us still like each other, we’re all gonna get through it.”
