Former President Donald Trump elicited mockery on Thursday after he took aim at an Oscar-winning actor he dubbed a “fake” and a “rat.”
In fact, Trump quickly saw his attacks boomerang after he slammed George Clooney’s call on President Joe Biden to resign.
“Trump’s patently immature rant demonstrates more than a little reluctance to see his 81-year-old opponent exit the race,” quips New Republic writer Edith Olmsted. “Maybe Trump understands that in politics, like in Hollywood, youth is currency, and the 78-year-old is scared that he just can’t compete.”
Journalist Harris Meyer agreed Trump’s commentary seemed “desperate” and rather telling.
Film historian G. Vaughn Joy said she found Trump’s response “fascinating and hilarious and terrifyingly soul crushing.”
Joy drew followers attention to Clooney’s 2017 potshot at Trump’s imprisoned campaign strategist Steve Bannon.
“Steve Bannon is a failed film writer and director,” Clooney said at the time. “He wrote a Shakespearean rap musical about the LA riots that he couldn't get made.”
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Clooney’s fans piped up to defend the Hollywood star’s work both on television and the silver screen.
“George Clooney has multiple Oscar nominations and won Best Picture,” wrote X user @Dat_Boi_222. “Trump should stick to reality tv he’s better at acting like a successful businessman than actually being one considering all the bankruptcies.”
"Trump wishes he could be cool like George Clooney,” wrote X user KT. “He's jealous of him just like he's jealous of Barack Obama!”
“George Clooney has two academy awards,” added X user Travis. “Trump has his failed reality show the Apprentice and a droopy a–.”
It’s worth noting Clooney also drew criticism for his decision to weigh in the presidential election race and call on Biden to step down.
“Imagine if George Clooney, Rob Reiner and the rest of those celebs calling for Biden to step aside had spent the past two weeks using their platforms to remind/educate people on the dangers of a weaponized SCOTUS, a President Trump with immunity, the horrors of Project 2025,” wrote author John Pavlovitz.
“If Trump wins, women will lose what's left of body autonomy, LGBTQ people will lose the right to marry the person they love, civil and human rights here will be decimated, the Supreme Court will be permanently weaponized, Trump will be a monster without legal accountability, Project 2025 will be implemented, voting will be a thing of the past—and everyone including Muslims, Palestinians, and immigrants will be in far greater peril than they are now.
“And when all that happens, George Clooney and Stephen King won't be there to help you.”
