'The View' co-host Joy Behar questions George Clooney for op-ed criticizing Joe Biden
"The View" co-host Joy Behar is slamming George Clooney for writing an op-ed calling for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 election race.
Clooney, who is also a high-profile supporter of Biden and self-described lifelong Democrat, argued that the Democratic party needs a new nominee in the piece published Wednesday in The New York Times.
On Thursday's episode of "The View," Behar admitted she was "mad at Clooney" for making his concerns about Biden's capabilities public and feels as though Democrats calling for Biden to step down do not "understand what’s at stake yet."
"George Clooney, couldn't he tell him that in person for God's sake? He has to write an op-ed piece?" Behar asked.
She also criticized Clooney for leaving out Biden's standout accomplishments as president and vice president from the article, citing his economic track record and adding that "President Biden is fighting right now for his political future."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Comedian D.L. Hughley also weighed in and called Clooney's op-ed "ridiculous." "Obviously he's an older man, there's no disputing that. But let's be clear, the Democrats should be focusing on what's at stake in terms of what they're running against," he told CNN on Thursday. "I don't think (Clooney) speaks for the people that I speak, I speak to millions of people every day on my radio show."
In his op-ed, Clooney argued that Biden will cause Democrats to lose the race. "On top of that, we won't win the House, and we're going to lose the Senate," he wrote.
"It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010," Clooney continued. "He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."
But even as Behar got heated, she couldn't help but assure the audience she's still tending the flames between her and Clooney: "I'm mad at George Clooney right now, even though we dated ... I wish."
Behar's defense of Biden arrived just hours before Biden held a pivotal press conference to address concerns about his age and the election. This press conference comes as an attempt to mitigate doubts in his competence that have increased since his poor debate performance last month.