Hunter Biden’s very public recent attack on actor and Democratic donor George Clooney is not aberration. He produced these comments after a three hour on camera interview with Channel 5. This new confrontation comes on the heels of Clooney’s NY Times op-ed last July. He called on the Democratic Party to replace the current Democratic presidential nominee. Intensifying the ripostes toward Clooney’s elite Hollywood pedigree, Biden’s comments addressed growing political fracas over heated international criticism in recent weeks.
Clooney is well-known for both his philanthropic endeavors as well as his close friendship with former President Barack Obama. Indeed, he has become an extraordinarily powerful influence within the Democratic party. His financial contributions to the party have been significant, but Biden questions the validity of Clooney’s influence, particularly in light of his recent comments about the party’s direction.
In fact, during the interview Hunter Biden said he couldn’t believe anybody would listen to Clooney. He provocatively questioned, “What do you have to do with fucking anything?” He further emphasized his distaste by stating, “Fuck him and everybody around him. I don’t have to be fucking nice.”
Biden suspects that Clooney’s public annoyance is somewhat due to his condemnation of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This link has led to rampant conjecture regarding Clooney’s opinion of the President. President Joe Biden just denounced the ICC’s move to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among those welcoming the announcement was Amal Clooney, the world-famous human rights lawyer and spouse of George Clooney.
Hunter Biden implied that Clooney’s disappointment with his father is interwoven with this political battle. He argued that the only reason Clooney is mad is because Joe Biden is continuing the Obama administration policy of supporting the ICC’s work. “They give him Ambien to be able to sleep,” Biden said, referencing Clooney’s public appearances, “He gets up on the stage and looks like he’s a deer in the headlights, and it feeds into every fucking story that anybody wants to tell.”
Hunter Biden confirmed Quentin Tarantino’s claim that Clooney isn’t a real “movie star.” He dismissed Clooney’s status in Hollywood, stating, “Fucking George Clooney is not a fucking actor. He is fucking like … I don’t know what he is. He’s a brand.” While that certainly isn’t the case, this comment highlights an idea that Clooney’s star power has outshone all his great work in film and politics.
Even though they could hardly be more different, Clooney still enjoys the respect and standing of a true Democratic belle of the ball. His new home at a “wonderful location in Lake Como” lends an aura of mystique and class to his already-impressive biography. Hunter Biden’s statements raise important questions about the influence of celebrity views on our political discussions. They further challenge us to question why these figures should have any role in determining the party’s future.