George Clooney Calls for Biden to Quit Presidential Race

Hollywood actor and prominent Democratic fundraiser George Clooney has issued a damning call for President Joe Biden to step down from the US presidential race. Clooney's comments come just hours after senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi avoided questions about Biden's continuation in the race.

Clooney, a well-known Democratic supporter, said that while President Biden has won many battles throughout his career, "the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time." His remarks follow Pelosi's indication that time was "running short" for Biden, 81, to decide whether to remain in the race after his recent stumbling debate against Donald Trump.

Despite Biden's repeated assertions of his determination to stay in the race and defeat Trump, 78, in November, Clooney expressed his concern in a New York Times op-ed. Clooney wrote that it was "devastating to say it," but the Biden he met at a fundraising event three weeks ago was not the same as in 2010 or even 2020. "He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate," Clooney said.

The fundraising event, co-hosted by Clooney in Los Angeles with Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand, raised a single-night record of approximately $30 million (£23 million) for Biden's campaign. However, the Biden camp responded to Clooney's criticism, with an unnamed source stating that the President stayed for over three hours at the fundraiser, while Clooney "took a photo quickly and left." The campaign also noted that Biden had just returned from the G7 summit in Italy before attending the event.

In his op-ed, Clooney urged party leaders to stop denying what many witnessed at the debate, emphasizing that this issue is purely about age. "We are not going to win in November with this president," he concluded, adding that his concerns were shared by "every" member of Congress he had spoken to.

When asked for a response, Biden's campaign referred to a letter from the President to Democrats in Congress, affirming his commitment to his candidacy and to defeating Trump. Nevertheless, public dissent within the Democratic Party is growing as Biden faces scrutiny while hosting the NATO summit in Washington.

Nancy Pelosi, a significant figure among Capitol Hill Democrats, seemed to dismiss Biden's determination to continue. Speaking on MSNBC's Morning Joe, she stated, "I want him to do whatever he decides to do. It's up to the president to decide if he's going to run. We are all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short."

Acknowledging the demands on Biden during the NATO summit, Pelosi urged patience, advising people to hold off on public comments until the week concluded. Despite her pride in the President, a dozen elected Democrats have suggested he abandon his campaign since the June 27 debate with Trump.

On Tuesday night, Michael Bennet of Colorado became the first Democratic senator to express doubt about Biden's ability to win the election, suggesting Trump could achieve a "landslide" victory. The following day, Peter Welch of Vermont openly called on Biden to withdraw "for the good of the country" in a Washington Post op-ed. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut also voiced his concerns about Biden's electability.

New York Congressman Pat Ryan added to the chorus, telling the New York Times that Biden should step aside "for the good of our country, for my two young kids." Despite these growing calls, the Biden campaign reiterated the President's determination to continue his campaign to the end.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries plans to discuss these concerns with Biden by Friday. Although overall support from elected Democrats remains strong, with figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom and the Congressional Black Caucus backing Biden, private doubts persist. Reports suggest Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is privately open to finding a new candidate despite his public support.

As Biden continues to host the NATO summit, questions about his campaign are mounting, both within his party and among the public.