George Clooney Criticizes Democratic Party’s Decision to Nominate Kamala Harris as Presidential Candidate

By Zoe Papadakis | Monday, 03 November 2025 11:46 AM EST

George Clooney criticized the Democratic Party for selecting former Vice President Kamala Harris as its presidential candidate in the 2024 election following former President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Speaking on CBS “Sunday Morning,” the actor and political donor stated he stood by his July 2024 New York Times opinion piece advocating for a new nominee after Biden’s controversial debate performance against President Donald Trump.

Clooney argued that the decision to nominate Harris was flawed, stating she faced an “unfair” challenge in distancing herself from her own record. “It’s very hard to run on saying, ‘I’m not that person’ when you’re the one who did it,” he said. He reiterated his belief that Democrats should have held an open primary rather than appointing Harris through a virtual delegate vote.

In his 2024 op-ed titled “I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee,” Clooney claimed Biden could not win reelection and risked damaging other Democratic candidates. He cited private conversations with lawmakers, stating they shared his concern about the party’s prospects in the November election.

The article drew backlash from Hunter Biden, who accused Clooney of overstepping during an interview, calling him a “fing idiot” and questioning his right to critique his father’s candidacy. Clooney declined to engage further, emphasizing that public disputes would not benefit the party. He reiterated his personal views but stressed the importance of unity.

Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer, and editor for newspapers, magazines, and websites.