Actor George Clooney, known for his significant fundraising efforts for the Democratic Party, has urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 US presidential race. In a scathing op-ed published in the New York Times, Clooney expressed concerns about Biden's capacity to run for a second term, stating that the 81-year-old President is no longer the same person who won the White House in 2020.

Clooney referenced Biden's lackluster performance in the recent presidential debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump, saying, "It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010."

Biden's shaky performance at the June 27 debate, where he stumbled over answers and fumbled on several occasions, has heightened concerns about his age and health. While Biden dismissed his poor debate showing as a "bad episode," Clooney emphasized the importance of acknowledging the reality seen by millions of viewers.

"Was he tired? Yes. A cold? Maybe. But our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn't see what we just saw," Clooney added.

Despite his admiration for Biden, Clooney stressed that the Democrats risk losing both the presidential race and control of Congress if Biden remains the nominee. He claimed that his concerns are shared by many senators, congress members, and governors in private conversations.

Clooney acknowledged Biden's numerous accomplishments but pointed out that "the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time." He urged the Democratic Party to select a new nominee at its August convention, while also noting the potential challenges of such a process: "The process will be messy but will wake up voters in the party's favor."

President Biden has repeatedly refused to end his re-election bid, challenging his critics to contest him at the national convention in Chicago next month.