George Clooney: America is like a ‘battered child’ after the Trump presidency

London Film Festival 2021 - The Tender Bar Arrivals at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London

George Clooney has been relatively quiet about politics in recent years. I don’t even remember him doing or saying much around the 2020 election? What’s weird about that is that people have claimed for years that the only reason George married Amal was to further his “political ambition,” as in, he needed a serious and politically-minded wife on his arm before he ran for office. George has telegraphed for years that he doesn’t really care about running for office though – he’s still politically active, but he’s more of a fundraiser-activist more than anything else. As he promoted The Tender Bar, he spoke to the BBC about whether he would ever run, and what he thinks about Joe Biden:

Whether he’ll run for office: “No, because I would actually like to have a nice life.” Clooney said he planned to take on fewer projects while he is healthy and can still “play basketball and do the things I love.”

Turning 60: “I turned 60 this year and I had a conversation with my wife and we were working a lot, as we both do, and I said we have to think of these as the halcyon years. In 20 years, I will be 80 and that’s a real number. Doesn’t matter how much you work out, what you eat, you’re 80 and so I said we have to make sure we enjoy and live these years in the best possible way.”

On Joe Biden: Clooney shrugged off concerns about Biden’s sagging poll numbers, saying the president is still struggling with Trump’s legacy. “It’s like taking a battered child and thinking everything’s going to be OK his first day in school. There’s a lot of things that have to be repaired, there’s a lot of healing that has to happen, and it’s going to take time.”

On Donald Trump: Trump remains a factor in U.S. politics, Clooney said, adding that he hopes Americans have “a little better sense” than to return him to the White House. “It’s so funny, because he was just this knucklehead. I knew him before he was a president. He was just a guy who was chasing girls. Every time you went out he’d be like, ‘What’s the name of that girl?’ That’s all he was.”

[From The AP]

“In 20 years, I will be 80 and that’s a real number. Doesn’t matter how much you work out, what you eat, you’re 80…” I feel that. That conversation is a lot more realistic than Jennifer Aniston’s recent (ableist) comment: “I think fitness is important and not just about how you look but I want to be around here for a long time and not be in a wheelchair when I’m 80.” You can take care of yourself and eat right and work out but you’re still going to be 80 f–king years old. If you’re lucky.

As for what George says about politics… he’s right, especially about how America is like a battered child. It’s going to take us a while to undo the Trump era, and even then, we still know what f–king happened and how bad it was. And we know that tens of millions of Americans wish that orange psycho was still president.

London Film Festival 2021 - The Tender Bar Arrivals at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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12 Responses to “George Clooney: America is like a ‘battered child’ after the Trump presidency”

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  1. Merricat says:

    George is right about this one–exercise and diet can take you a long way, but after a point, parts start wearing out. Use the good china if you have it, buy good wine if you can, make an excellent mattress a priority.

  2. cherry says:

    ‘He was just a guy who was chasing girls. Every time you went out he’d be like, ‘What’s the name of that girl?’ That’s all he was.”
    That’s who George was, too.

    • Lizzie says:

      George wasn’t married at the time.

      • Tanguerita says:

        Besides, George was an accomplished actor and director. In her eagerness to defend Trump, Cherry conveniently forgot to mention that.

      • cherry says:

        LOL, I’ll be the last to defend Trump, that’s hilarious! I’m just saying: the fact that Trump was always chasing girls is hardly the worst thing one could say about him. Especially coming from George, who as I remember it was ‘that guy’ too.

      • Lory says:

        He was also not the president, who should be held as the standard for accountability.

    • North of Boston says:

      He was more than someone chasing girls. He may have been a single man who dated women, but he also made an effort to get attention on the humanitarian crisis in Dafur, and did fundraising for other causes.

  3. Mireille says:

    Delete comment.

  4. Aang says:

    My mother in law is 80. She exercises every day. Eats collard greens and steel cut oats for breakfast every day and super healthy the rest of the day, rarely drinks. And in the past 5 years she’s slowed down so much, her hip hurts, she’s shrinking, her eyes are weakening. Diet and exercise can only get you so far.

  5. FHMom says:

    He is correct. Jack your face all you want, you can’t fight time. I think if he were younger he might consider politics. Instead his life went in a direction he never planned for. Good for George wanting to spend time with his family and friends while he can. Besides, he can do more good as an activist then he could as a politician.

  6. Mami says:

    George is not wrong about time catching up eventually. Be grateful for every day and all the ones that came before. Can I just say: his face tweaks are excellent. Looks like he’s decided to do all of his cosmetic stuff only below the forehead and eyes. Very smart choice– he looks older but not haggard. I wonder if this would work for women or those who want to look feminine rather than ruggedly masculine? hmmm.

  7. Sue Denim says:

    feels like he’s maturing so well, from the inside out, and such a good antidote to so many of the others. yay George 🙂 like a fine wine.