George Clooney Fires Back at Trump
George Clooney January, 2023. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Education under CC BY 2.0.
The shot was meant to humiliate him. But George Clooney, Hollywood royalty and Democratic power player, flipped the script — live, on national television — and hit back at Donald Trump with a smirk that said: "Try me."
This wasn't just celebrity banter. It was a clash of titans — the twice-impeached, now re-elected president, and the Oscar-winning actor who helped push Joe Biden to step aside.
When Hollywood Writes the First Draft of History
In July 2024, George Clooney shocked Democrats by publishing an op-ed in The New York Times titled "I Love Joe Biden, but We Need a New Nominee." In it, he praised the president's character but pointed to Biden's declining public presence and 81 years of age, calling him unelectable after his performance in the first debate against Trump.
Just 11 days later, Biden stepped aside and endorsed Kamala Harris.
Did Clooney's op-ed change history? On "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Kimmel suggested exactly that. "It did actually change the world — it had an enormous impact on the presidential election," he said. Clooney responded modestly: "I don't know that that's true," The Hill reported.
Still, the moment was undeniable. Clooney, once the brooding star of "ER," had become something else entirely — a man whose words made presidents move.
Trump Fires Back, and Clooney Smiles
Predictably, Trump lashed out. In a post on Truth Social, he slammed Clooney as a "fake movie actor" and told him to "get out of politics and go back to television," as reported by the Hollywood Reporter.
Clooney didn't just clap back. He turned the jab into a viral moment.
"I will if he does," he quipped. "That's a trade-off I'd do."
The audience roared. It was defiance wrapped in comedy — and it hit its target.
Later, when Kimmel asked if Clooney feared personal retaliation if Trump won again, Entertainment Weekly reported Clooney was replied, "Yeah, I have. But I'm confident in the fact that he's coming after you first." He added, "You know that theory about you don't have to be faster than the bear, you just have to be faster than the one kid? You're that one kid, pal."
Will Clooney Stay in Politics?
Clooney insists he isn't running for anything. When Kimmel teased the idea of an anti-Trump op-ed sequel, the Hill reported that Clooney joked, "He's a big fan of mine."
But that might be the point. Clooney doesn't need a campaign. With a few well-placed words, he's already proven he can shift the national conversation.
And if Trump keeps throwing punches, don't expect Clooney to retreat quietly. He's not just a "fake movie actor." He's the real-life thorn in Donald Trump's side.
References: George Clooney responds to Donald Trump telling him to 'get out' of politics: 'I will if he does' | George Clooney Taunts Trump in Response to Ex-President's 'Get Out of Politics' Remark | George Clooney reacts to Trump saying he should 'get out of politics': 'I will if he does'
