Actor George Clooney urges Democrats to nominate new candidate in presidential race

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Actor and a 'lifelong Democrat' George Clooney joined calls Wednesday for President Joe Biden to step aside in the presidential election race.

"I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him," Clooney wrote in a New York Times opinion piece.

Clooney, however, recognized the effect of aging.

"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 warned that continuing with Biden as the nominee could jeopardize the Democrats' chances in the election, urging top Democrats -- Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi -- to encourage Biden to "voluntarily step aside."

He suggested Vice President Kamala Harris, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and California Gov. Gavin Newsom as potential candidates.

"We can put our heads in the sand and pray for a miracle in November, or we can speak the truth," he said.

Calling on Biden to prioritize the country's future, Clooney said: "Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024.

Filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner also urged Biden to step aside as he echoed Clooney's criticisms.

"My friend George Clooney has clearly expressed what many of us have been saying. We love and respect Joe Biden. We acknowledge all he has done for our country. But Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside,” Reiner wrote on X.