George Clooney, an influential actor and filmmaker, has publicly expressed his concerns regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination as the Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election. In a recent op-ed published in the New York Times, Clooney argues that replacing President Joe Biden with Harris was a mistake, stating, “We are not going to win in November with this president.” His remarks set off a lively and ongoing discussion on the direction of the Democratic Party.
In her memoir 107 Days, released in September, Harris took stock of her place in the party. She acknowledged that she felt “in the worst position to make the case that Joe Biden should drop out.” Harris communicated a strong desire not to undermine Biden and call for him not to run, telling the group that it would be seen as “extremely self-serving.”
Clooney’s op-ed, titled “I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee,” highlights his belief that a new candidate is necessary for the party to succeed in the upcoming election. He went on to criticize Biden’s performance during this year’s first presidential debate against Donald Trump, an experience Clooney called disappointing.
The conversation surrounding Harris’s nomination has been further complicated by Hunter Biden’s vehement defense of his father. In an expletive-filled, hour-and-half-long Channel 5 TV interview, Hunter Biden defended himself against Clooney’s comments. He challenged the importance of Clooney’s views, saying, “What the hell do you have to do with fucking anything? His comments mark a new level of frustration in the Biden camp over outside criticism.
Indeed, despite the backlash response to Clooney’s action, he continues to be unrepentant. He articulated his feelings on the matter, stating, “I think it was a mistake, quite honestly. We are where we are.” With all that said, he insisted on the importance of honesty in political discourse. He cautioned that if we didn’t face these threats head on, we’d be ignoring reality.
Clooney’s critique comes as part of a larger dissatisfaction with the current state of the Democratic Party, and its failure to resonate with voters. Further, he opines that Harris’s nomination will not resonate with the electorate. He believes her previous criticisms of Biden’s run could damage their campaign.
Harris’s nomination occurred through a virtual vote by party delegates, a process that reflects the changing dynamics of political campaigns in the age of technology. Her hold over Biden has been questioned since her own failed presidential campaign.
Clooney’s appeal for a different nominee has reawakened interest in other possible alternatives, and speculation abounds as to who else the party might turn to. There are louder voices from other factions calling for new leadership as election season gears up. Clooney’s powerful opinion piece will likely have others who are similarly worried about Biden’s viability as a candidate.
Nobody can deny that tensions are rising within the ranks of the Democratic Party. Harris and Clooney’s differing opinions on her possible future as Biden’s successor show how complicated the world—and America’s political scene—has become. These questions of loyalty and accountability that surfaced through Clooney’s critique cut to the very core of effective leadership.