George Clooney calls for 'hero' Biden to 'save democracy' in 2024 — by leaving the race

Following President Joe Biden's widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27, Democrats have been arguing over whether Biden should or shouldn't be their party's 2024 nominee. Some Democrats are calling for Biden to drop out of the race, while others are vowing to stick by his campaign.

On Wednesday, July 10, a major Democrat in the entertainment world — actor George Clooney — called for members of his party to find another presidential candidate.

In a guest op-ed published by the New York Times, Clooney writes, "I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he's won many of the battles he's faced."

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Clooney continues, "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 fundraiser 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."

Democrats, Clooney argues, need to be realistic and nominate someone is better equipped to defeat Trump in November.

"Let's hear from Wes Moore and Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear and J.B. Pritzker and others," the actor says. "Let's agree that the candidates not attack one another but, in the short time we have, focus on what will make this country soar. Then we could go into the Democratic convention next month and figure it out."

Clooney adds, "Would it be messy? Yes. Democracy is messy. But would it enliven our party and wake up voters who, long before the June debate, had already checked out? It sure would…. Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024."

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George Clooney's full New York Times op-ed is available at this link (subscription needed).