George Clooney has made a strong appeal for Joe Biden to withdraw from the US presidential race, shortly after senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi evaded questions about whether Biden should continue.
The renowned actor and influential Democratic supporter stated that although the president has triumphed in numerous challenges throughout his career, “the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.”
These remarks followed those of Mrs. Pelosi, the former House Speaker, who expressed concern within the party by noting that time was “running short” for Mr. Biden, aged 81, to decide about continuing in the race after a faltering debate performance against Donald Trump.
President Biden has repeatedly said that he is determined to remain the Democratic party’s nominee and to defeat Trump, who is 78, this coming November.
Clooney wrote in the New York Times that it was “devastating to say it,” but the Joe Biden he met at a fundraising event three weeks ago wasn’t the Biden of 2010.
“He wasn’t even the Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,” Clooney said.
At a fundraising event in Los Angeles, which Clooney co-hosted and was attended by celebrities like Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand, a record-breaking $30m was raised in one night for the Biden campaign.
In response, the Biden camp criticized the Hollywood star, with an anonymous source stating to the media, “The President was present for over three hours at the fundraiser, whereas Clooney only briefly stopped for a photo before leaving.”
Additionally, the campaign highlighted that Biden had just arrived in Los Angeles from Italy, where he had participated in the G7 summit, when he attended the fundraiser.
Clooney, in his letter, urged, “Our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn’t see what we just saw.”
“This is about age. Nothing more,” he continued. “We are not going to win in November with this president.”
Clooney also mentioned that his concerns were shared by “every” member of Congress he had spoken with.
In reply, Mr. Biden’s campaign referred to a letter sent to Democrats in Congress where he stated his firm commitment to his candidacy and his intent to defeat Trump.
As Mr. Biden hosts the NATO summit in Washington, internal criticism within his party continues to mount.
Mrs. Pelosi, an influential figure among Capitol Hill Democrats, seemed to dismiss Mr. Biden’s determination to continue, during an interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
Asked if Biden should remain in the race, she responded, “I want him to do whatever he decides. It’s up to the president to decide if he’s going to run. We are all encouraging him to make that decision soon, as time is running short.”
Acknowledging the pressures of the NATO summit, Pelosi stated on MSNBC, “I’ve told everyone to hold off.”
“Keep your thoughts to yourselves or share them privately, but let’s not voice them publicly until this week is over. But I am very proud of the president.”
Since his debate with Trump on June 27, about a dozen Democrats in elected positions have suggested Biden should end his campaign.
On Tuesday evening, Michael Bennet from Colorado was the first Democratic senator to publicly express dissent.
While he stopped short of directly urging Mr. Biden to withdraw, he indicated that Trump could potentially win the upcoming election, even by a “landslide.”
The following day, Vermont Senator Peter Welch openly urged Mr. Biden to step down “for the good of the country,” in a Washington Post op-ed.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed serious concerns to reporters about Mr. Biden’s chances in the upcoming election.
Earlier that day, Congressman Pat Ryan from New York told the New York Times, “For the good of our country, and for my two young children, I’m urging Joe Biden to step aside.”
The Biden campaign reiterated the president’s intention to “run this race to the end.”
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to discuss these concerns with Mr. Biden by Friday, following several discussions with congressional party members.
Despite these challenges, overall support for Mr. Biden among elected Democrats remains strong.