Actor George Clooney expressed his belief that it was a mistake for Vice President Kamala Harris to run in the 2024 presidential election during an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning with Seth Doane. Clooney argued that there should have been a primary contest to select a replacement for President Joe Biden, suggesting that Harris faced a challenging situation in her campaign.
Clooney Explains Why Harris’ Campaign Was Problematic
In discussing Harris’ run, Clooney said,
“We had a chance. I wanted there to be, as I wrote in the op-ed, a primary. Let’s battle-test this quickly and get it up and going,”
referencing his earlier opinion piece. He added,
“I think the mistake with it being Kamala is she had to run against her own record. It’s very hard to do if the point of running is to say, ‘I’m not that person.’”
According to Clooney, Harris was given a difficult task by having to distance herself from her past performance while campaigning.
He went on to say,
“It’s hard to do, and so she was given a very tough task. I think it was a mistake, quite honestly. But, we are where we are. We were gonna lose more House seats, they say. So, I don’t know. To not do it would be to say, ‘I’m not gonna tell the truth.’”
This reflects Clooney’s frank assessment of the Democratic Party’s strategic choices in the election cycle.
Context of Clooney’s Comments and Response to Hunter Biden
The issue of Harris’ candidacy came up after Clooney was asked about a July 2024 op-ed he wrote for the New York Times questioning Joe Biden’s fitness for re-election. The article prompted strong criticism from Hunter Biden, the former president’s son, who was visibly frustrated by Clooney’s remarks. Clooney acknowledged seeing Hunter’s reaction but chose not to engage with his claims.
He said,
“Many of the things he said were just outright lies. Obama didn’t put me up to it. It wasn’t my fundraiser. It wasn’t my fundraiser — all the things,”
and added,
“But the reality is, I don’t think looking backwards like that is helpful to anyone, particularly to him. I don’t think it’s helpful for the Democratic Party. So I’m just going to wish him well on his ongoing recovery, and I hope he does well and just leave it at that. I have many personal opinions about it, but I don’t find it to be helpful to have a public spat with him.”
Clooney Frames His Criticism as Civic Duty
Earlier in the summer, Clooney addressed the backlash from his op-ed during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. He remarked,
“I don’t know if it was brave. It was a civic duty. I’m a Democrat in Kentucky, so I get it.”
This highlights Clooney’s view that questioning political leadership is part of his responsibility as a citizen, despite potential controversy.
Implications for the Democratic Party’s Future
Clooney’s comments signal ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party as it navigates the 2024 election. His critique of Harris’ candidacy and call for a contested primary underscore the challenges Democrats face in balancing political strategy and electoral viability. The discussion reflects concerns about party unity and how leadership decisions may affect House races and the overall electoral landscape moving forward.
