George Clooney made waves by calling for President Joe Biden to drop out of the race for president in a highly publicized op-ed. Now, the actor and prominent Democratic donor is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place on the ticket.
“President Biden has shown what true leadership is. He’s saving democracy once again. We’re all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest,” Clooney said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday.
The Oscar-winning actor was one of the most prominent Democrats to call for Biden to drop out of the race, doing so just weeks after hosting a glitzy fundraiser for the president in Los Angeles. “We are not going to win in November with this president,” he wrote earlier this month. “On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate. This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor that I’ve spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly.”
Biden’s announcement that he will be stepping aside came amid a weeks-long pressure campaign following his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month. It had been unclear who would replace the president on the ticket, but the party quickly rallied behind Harris, with over half of Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives endorsing her within 24 hours. The Democrats who many propped up as potential Biden replacements — including Govs. Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, and Josh Shapiro — also endorsed her, clearing the way for her to secure the nomination.
Harris became the presumptive nominee on Monday night when enough delegates to clinch her the nomination signaled their support. In another type of coronation, Donald Trump started attacking her on Truth Social early Tuesday morning, labeling her “Lyin’ Kamala Harris.”
