Actor and longtime Democratic supporter George Clooney is defending himself against accusations that he played a role in Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to President Donald Trump. Clooney, who had pushed for a change in the Democratic ticket, says he’s being unfairly targeted as a “scapegoat” for the party’s failure.
Speaking through sources quoted by the Daily Mail, Clooney expressed frustration over the backlash. “He thinks it is completely unfair to try and make him a scapegoat for her loss,” one source said, adding that Clooney has dedicated substantial time and resources to the Democratic Party over the years.
The criticism stems from an op-ed Clooney wrote in The New York Times, reportedly urging the Democratic Party to reconsider President Joe Biden’s candidacy. While Clooney didn’t specifically advocate for Kamala Harris, the party ultimately replaced Biden with Harris, a decision some now view as a misstep.
Clooney’s op-ed came shortly after he raised $30 million for Biden’s re-election campaign at a Hollywood fundraiser. According to reports, former President Barack Obama was aware of the op-ed but neither encouraged nor discouraged Clooney’s decision to write it.
Democratic insiders are reportedly divided over Clooney’s role in the election loss. Some argue his critique of Biden weakened the party’s position, while others believe the decision to back Harris was the real issue. Clooney himself believes Democrats failed to fully assess their options before removing Biden from the ticket.
Clooney now plans to step back from political activities, citing disillusionment with the party’s current trajectory. His defenders insist that his actions were intended to strengthen the Democratic Party, not to contribute to its defeat in 2024.
