Actor George Clooney is pushing back against claims that his actions contributed to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 election loss. Clooney, who questioned President Joe Biden’s re-election chances in an op-ed, says he is being unfairly targeted as a “scapegoat” by Democrats.
Clooney’s op-ed in The New York Times suggested the Democratic Party reconsider Biden as its nominee. While the piece didn’t endorse Kamala Harris, Democrats ultimately replaced Biden with her, a decision some now blame for the party’s loss to President Donald Trump.
Sources close to Clooney told the Daily Mail that he feels the backlash is misplaced. “He thinks it is completely unfair to try and make him a scapegoat for her loss,” a source said, adding that Clooney is stepping back from politics out of frustration.
The op-ed came shortly after Clooney hosted a fundraiser that brought in $30 million for Biden’s campaign. Reports indicate that former President Barack Obama was aware of the piece but neither encouraged nor discouraged Clooney’s decision to write it.
Democrats remain divided over the loss. Some blame Clooney for creating division within the party, while others argue that the choice to back Harris was the real mistake. Clooney himself believes the party failed to fully evaluate its options before removing Biden from the ticket.
Clooney’s defenders argue that his actions were intended to strengthen the Democratic Party, not harm it. The fallout from Harris’ loss continues to expose fractures within the party as it grapples with its defeat in 2024.
