Actor and Democratic donor George Clooney is reportedly upset over backlash following Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat in the 2024 presidential election.
According to RadarOnline.com, Clooney feels unfairly blamed for the outcome after allegedly being persuaded by former President Barack Obama to advocate for Harris as the Democratic nominee.
Sources familiar with the situation claim Clooney is particularly frustrated with Obama, who he feels has distanced himself from the fallout.
“George is furious with Obama for disappearing after the election disaster and leaving him holding the bag for pushing the plan with his Hollywood pal,” a source told the outlet.
Clooney had been an outspoken critic of President Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection in 2024. In a New York Times op-ed published over the summer, Clooney voiced concerns about Biden’s age and the party’s chances of victory, asserting that Democrats could not “win in November with this president.”
Just 11 days after the piece was published, Biden announced he would not seek another term, ultimately throwing his support behind Harris.
Reportedly, Obama played a key role in Clooney’s efforts to push Biden to step aside. Sources suggest Obama feared the optics of publicly urging his former vice president to exit the race and instead encouraged Clooney to take the lead.
“Obama and Clooney have been tight for years, and George became Barack’s surrogate in leading the charge for Joe to step away,” the insider claimed. “Barack knew he would look like a traitor if he publicly called for Joe to be cut loose. And now, he’s trying to walk away from it all.”
Harris’ decisive loss to President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly left many Democrats frustrated, with some venting their anger at Clooney. The actor, a longtime party activist, is said to feel unfairly targeted.
“George feels he stepped up and took a bullet for the team, and now everyone’s complaining about the bloodbath,” the source explained.
“Lots of celebrities, like Beyoncé, were on the campaign trail pumping up Kamala, but George became the face of Hollywood liberals by directly calling for Biden to end his campaign and throwing the whole process into chaos.”
Clooney, who hosted a record-breaking fundraiser that brought in $28 million for Biden’s campaign, is reportedly grappling with criticism from the left and ridicule from the right.
The source also revealed Clooney’s frustration with Obama’s silence, saying the actor feels abandoned. “George thinks Obama should come forward and say that George did the right thing, and it isn’t his fault that it didn’t work out,” the source stated. “But he doesn’t expect that will be forthcoming, and it’s left George feeling like a patsy.”
Clooney has reportedly vowed to step back from political advocacy, feeling disillusioned by the fallout. “He’s not going to be anyone’s political water boy anymore,” the source added.