In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, Hollywood actor George Clooney made a bold call for President Joe Biden to step down following what he described as a disastrous debate performance.
The actor, who had previously given former President Barack Obama a heads-up about his intentions, did not receive any objections from Obama, according to Politico.
Clooney's critique of Biden was unflinching. He wrote, "the one battle" Biden "cannot win is the fight against time," urging Democratic leaders to face reality and stop assuring the public that everything is fine. This comes after Clooney headlined a Los Angeles fundraiser, attended by Obama, which raised nearly $30 million for the president. The actor drew a stark comparison between Biden's demeanor at the fundraiser and his performance at the June 27 debate against Donald Trump, where Biden appeared disoriented and frail.
"Its devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe big F-ing deal Biden of 2010," Clooney stated. "He wasnt even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."
Despite Biden's lackluster debate performance, Obama was among the first major party figures to voice support for him. However, several of Obama's former aides, including David Axelrod, have expressed skepticism about Biden's potential for re-election, arguing that he no longer possesses the necessary vigor to defeat Trump.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a recent appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe, gave a cautiously worded response about Biden's political future, declining to comment on whether she believes the president should remain the party's frontrunner. "Its up to the president to [decide] if hes going to run. Were all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short," she said.
As reported by Politico, Pelosi had informed Democratic leaders about her planned response prior to her Morning Joe appearance. The former House speaker has also privately suggested that Biden cannot secure a victory in the upcoming election and should step aside, advising lawmakers in swing seats to prioritize their re-election.
However, Pelosi has advised these members to withhold their statements until the conclusion of the ongoing NATO summit. Several members have reportedly begun drafting their statements. Pelosi has also encouraged members not in vulnerable seats to communicate their concerns directly with the White House or the campaign to minimize public disagreements.
Despite these reports, a spokesperson for Pelosi denied that she is part of any effort to push Biden out of the race. "Publicly and privately, Speaker Pelosi has acknowledged the concerns that many have expressed in recent days but has repeatedly said that she fully supports whatever President Biden decides to do," the spokesperson told Politico.
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