President Trump has criticized “second-rate movie star” George Clooney’s appearance on “60 Minutes,” dismissing the interview as a “total puff piece.”
On Sunday, the 2-time Oscar winner appeared on the news program to promote his Broadway debut — which sees him portray renowned journalist Edward R. Murrow in “Good Night and Good Luck.”
Clooney, 63, also spoke about his decision to drop his support for former president Joe Biden, before taking aim at the Trump administration.
But the interview appeared to leave a bad taste in Trump’s mouth, as the POTUS took to Truth Social to set the record straight on his thoughts about the Hollywood actor.
“Why would the now highly-discredited 60 Minutes be doing a total ‘puff piece’ on George Clooney, a second-rate movie ‘star’ and failed political pundit,” Trump, 78, wrote on his platform.
“He fought hard for Sleepy Joe’s election, and then, right after the Debate, dumped him like a dog. Later, I assume under orders from the Obama camp, pushed all out for ‘Kamala,’ only to soon realize that this was not going to work out too well.”
The president added, “60 Minutes even fraudulently inserted Fake answers into her disastrous interview, aired just before Election Day, in one of the most embarrassing and dishonest events in broadcast history…And now George Clooney again? His press agent should be making a fortune!!!”
During his interview, Clooney shared his thoughts on stepping onto the Broadway stage, especially for a role that delves into a journalist’s relentless pursuit of truth amid a divisive political landscape.
The actor said he saw parallels between the play and the current state of the country, referencing Trump’s $16 million settlement with ABC News and ongoing $20 billion lawsuit with CBS.
“When the other three estates fail, when the judiciary and the executive and the legislative branches fail us, the fourth estate has to succeed,” Clooney said.
“ABC has just settled a lawsuit with the Trump administration. And CBS News is in the process … We’re seeing this idea of using government to scare or fine or use corporations — to make journalists smaller.”
“Governments don’t like the freedom of the press. They never have. And that goes for whether you are a conservative or a liberal or whatever side you’re on. They don’t like the press,” he added.
Clooney was then asked to detail his decision to publish a damning op-ed in the New York Times, in which he called on Biden to end his re-election campaign, saying he simply “cannot win.”
“Yeah, I’ll make it kinda easy. I was raised to tell the truth,” Clooney told Jon Wertheim, referencing his upbringing as the son of a journalist.
“I had seen the president up close for this fundraiser, and I was surprised. And so I feel as if there was a lot of profiles in cowardice in my party through all of that.”
“And I was not proud of that. And I also believed I had to tell the truth,” the life-long Democrat went on, admitting he was “surprised” after running into Biden at a fundraiser and seeing him “up close.”
“I feel as if there was a lot of profiles and cowardice in my party through all of that, and I was not proud of that and also I believed I had to tell the truth,” the “Gravity” actor added.
“I’ve always liked Joe Biden and I like him still,” Clooney reaffirmed, but admitted that he couldn’t continue supporting his political campaign in good faith.
At the time, Trump responded to Clooney’s essay on social media, slamming him as a “fake movie actor” who “never came close to making a great movie.”
“What does Clooney know about anything?” the president wrote, in part. “Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television. Movies never really worked for him!!!”
