President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Hollywood actor George Clooney following the latter’s controversial remarks about Joe Biden and the current state of American politics.
Clooney recently appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes, where he criticized Trump’s administration and expressed concerns over the U.S. political climate.
In the interview, which also touched on Clooney’s personal life and his Broadway debut in Good Night and Good Luck, the actor drew parallels between modern-day America and the McCarthyism era of the 1950s.
But Trump didn’t waste time responding. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he mocked Clooney’s political credibility and slammed 60 Minutes for what he labeled a biased and deceptive interview.
“Why would the now highly-discredited 60 Minutes be doing a total ‘puff piece’ on George Clooney, a second-rate movie ‘star’ and failed political pundit?” Trump wrote.
“He fought hard for Sleepy Joe’s election and then, right after the debate, dumped him like a dog… Later, I assume under orders from the Obama camp, pushed all out for ‘Kamala,’ only to soon realize that this was not going to work out too well.”
The former president also accused CBS of manipulating footage, alleging that fake answers were inserted into Vice President Kamala Harris’s interview shortly before Election Day. He referred to it as “one of the most embarrassing and dishonest events in broadcast history.”
Trump’s attack comes while he’s embroiled in a $23 million lawsuit against CBS, accusing the network of election interference. CBS has denied the claims and filed a motion to dismiss the suit.
Clooney Doubles Down on Criticism, Defends Call to Replace Biden
During the 60 Minutes segment, Clooney revisited his public call for President Biden to step aside before the 2024 election. The actor had previously authored a New York Times op-ed urging Democrats to rally behind a new candidate—ultimately contributing to Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the party’s nominee.
Asked if he regretted that decision, Clooney said firmly, “Yeah, I’ll make it kind of easy. I was raised to tell the truth.”
He revealed that seeing Biden up close at a fundraiser influenced his opinion: “I had seen the president up close… and I was surprised. I feel as if there were a lot of profiles in cowardice in my party through all of that. And I was not proud of that.”
Clooney clarified that his actions were not rooted in personal dislike. “I’ve always liked Joe Biden, and I like him still,” he said.
Clooney Warns of a Growing Threat to Press Freedom
In the same interview, Clooney expressed serious concern about the state of journalism in the U.S. He warned against growing attempts by governments to silence or intimidate the press—whether through fines, corporate influence, or legislative pressure.
“We now are at a place where we have found it is harder to discern the truth. Facts are now negotiated,” he said.
“Journalism and telling truth to power has to be waged, like war is waged. It doesn’t just happen accidentally.”
Clooney stressed that press freedom is fundamental to American democracy, regardless of political affiliation:
“Governments don’t like the freedom of the press. They never have… That’s why we built freedom of speech into the First Amendment. It matters to us.”
