Democrats Blame George Clooney for Loss on Tuesday?

George Clooney finds himself in hot water with disillusioned Democrats, facing backlash for urging President Joe Biden to step down from the 2024 race. The 63-year-old actor, who made headlines in July with his bold call for Biden to exit, wrote in a New York Times op-ed: “We are not going to win in November with this president.”

Clooney’s star-studded endorsement of Kamala Harris has since fizzled, leaving many Democrats pointing fingers at the Hollywood icon for meddling in a campaign that went spectacularly off the rails.

“Thank you, George Clooney,” quipped journalist Joshua Hartley on X, sarcastically nodding to Clooney’s op-ed titled, “George Clooney: I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee.” Hartley’s frustration echoed a chorus of Democratic loyalists who feel let down by the chaotic race. Political group altNOAA joined in, posting a meme of Clooney’s role in Batman with the caption, “Someone bring me George Clooney. We need to have a…talk.”

Social media backlash only intensified as the election aftermath unfolded. “Trump should not forget to thank the Hollywood celebrities. Especially George Clooney,” jabbed one user on X, formerly Twitter. Another lamented, “Since I’m in a deep depression and feel like lashing out at someone, what’s the plan now, George Clooney?”—reflecting the bitter sentiments of voters looking for someone to blame.

As the dust settles, a rift has emerged over Biden’s role. Some say the President’s hesitation to withdraw cost the Democrats the crucial white working-class voters they desperately needed. Others argue he should have stayed in to unify his base.

Clooney, meanwhile, faces Trump’s sharp scorn. Before Election Day, Trump took to Truth Social, sneering: “So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act. He’s turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are. Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television. Movies never really worked for him!”

Yet just a month before calling for Biden’s exit, Clooney had co-hosted a glitzy Hollywood fundraiser that raised $28 million for Biden’s campaign. On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Clooney doubled down on his stance: “This is about age. Nothing more. We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate.” He added, “This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and congress member and governor I’ve spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly.”

But questions linger on whether celebrities should meddle in political campaigns at all. NYU professor Laurence F. Maslon shared his take with The Guardian, suggesting that celebrity endorsements often benefit the star more than the candidate. “It’s a way to hitch your star to somebody who seems to be good for you, and maybe there’s a certain kind of reflected glory in that,” Maslon explained. He added, “There’s probably not a Republican candidate in the last 20 years who didn’t append the word liberal before the word Hollywood when speaking about it… People like George Clooney and Robert De Niro—who cares, frankly?”

As Democrats lick their wounds, Clooney’s Hollywood activism stands out as both a high-profile gamble and a fresh cautionary tale in the volatile world of celebrity politics.