Academy Award winner and prominent Democrat George Clooney has written an op-ed calling for President Joe Biden to step down as the party's nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Citing concerns over Biden's age and fading cognitive abilities, Clooney argues that the party needs a younger candidate with more energy and vigor to lead them to victory.
Clooney, a longtime friend and supporter of Biden, expresses deep admiration for the president's character and accomplishments but argues that his physical and cognitive abilities are no longer up to the task of leading the country.
"I love Joe Biden," Clooney writes. "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."
George Clooney Urges Biden to Withdraw from Presidential Race
However, Clooney argues that Biden's age and declining health have become a liability for the party. "The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can," Clooney writes. "It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser 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."
Clooney's op-ed has sparked a wide range of reactions within the Democratic Party. Some have praised Clooney for speaking out about Biden's declining abilities, while others have criticized him for undermining the president at a time when the party needs to be united.
George Clooney Urges Biden to Withdraw from Presidential Race
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden "respects" Clooney's opinion but is "confident in his ability to lead the country and deliver on the promises he made to the American people."
Former President Barack Obama, who has endorsed Biden for re-election, has declined to comment on Clooney's op-ed. However, sources close to Obama say that he is privately concerned about Biden's age and health.
George Clooney Urges Biden to Withdraw from Presidential Race
As the Democratic Party grapples with the question of whether or not to replace Biden as their nominee, Clooney's op-ed has reignited a debate about the role of age and physical fitness in presidential elections.
Clooney is not the first prominent Democrat to express concerns about Biden's age and health. In recent months, several other Democratic lawmakers have also raised similar concerns, although they have not gone as far as to call for Biden to step down.
George Clooney Urges Biden to Withdraw from Presidential Race
It remains to be seen whether Clooney's op-ed will have any impact on Biden's decision to seek re-election. The president has not yet announced whether he will run for a second term, but he is widely expected to do so.
If Biden does decide to run again, he will face a tough challenge from Republicans, who are eager to regain control of the White House. The Republican field is likely to include former President Donald Trump, who has already announced his candidacy for the presidency.
George Clooney Urges Biden to Withdraw from Presidential Race
The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched and contested in recent history. The outcome of the election will have a significant impact on the future of the United States, both domestically and internationally.
