Clooney hits back at Trump: "My job is to try and tell the truth"
George Clooney responded to Donald Trump's attacks after the latter called him a "second rate movie star." The actor shared his thoughts on the comments made by the sitting president.
George Clooney is one of the stars who openly and sharply criticizes Donald Trump. In March, the President of the U.S.A. responded to Clooney's remarks by calling him a "second-rate movie star" and a "failed political pundit" (referring here to a letter in which Clooney urged Biden to withdraw from the presidential race). Earlier, Trump wrote about the actor: "What does Clooney know about anything?…Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television. Movies never really worked for him!!!" What does Clooney think about this?
Trump vs. Clooney. And on it goes
Clooney appeared on "CBS Mornings" to promote his Broadway debut in the play "Good Night and Good Luck." Host Gayle King asked him about Trump's comments. Clooney replied, "I don’t care. I’ve known Donald Trump for a long time. My job is not to please the president of the United States. My job is to try and tell the truth when I can and when I have the opportunity."
The actor added, "I’m OK with that, I’m OK with criticism for where I stand. I defend their right to criticize me as much as I defend my right to criticize them."
Trump's attacks began last summer when Clooney published an op-ed in "The New York Times." In it, he called on Joe Biden to refrain from seeking re-election, arguing that the president had already saved democracy and could do so again by making way for another Democratic candidate.
Trump then responded on social media: "So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act. He’s turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are." He also added, "Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television."
Soon after, Clooney appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" where the host read Trump's statement. The actor said he would be willing to step back if the other person did the same, calling it a trade he would agree to, prompting an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.
Clooney, who boldly engages in politics, emphasized in a recent interview with CNN: "You know, listen, the idea of freedom of speech, you know, the specific idea of it is, you know – you can’t demand freedom of speech and then say, but don’t say bad things about me. You have to take a stand if you believe in it, take a stance, stand for it, and then deal with the consequences. That’s the rules."
