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Hollywood star George Clooney fired back when he was ambushed by a reporter from Fox News outside a New York City theatre.
The Oceans 11 star is currently appearing in the play Good Night and Good Luck, adapted from his film and screenplay of the same name.
As he signed autographs for fans, Clooney, 64, was approached by Fox News anchor Johnny Belisario.
The journalist took the opportunity to derail the actor’s entrance with questions over his July 2024 op-ed in which he called for Joe Biden to step down from re-election and be replaced with another Democratic candidate.
Batman & Robin star and lifelong Democrat Clooney had previously supported Biden throughout his presidency and campaign for re-election, even headlining a record-breaking fundraiser weeks prior.
Noting that he still loved and supported Biden, Clooney wrote: ‘But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can.’
Questioning Clooney over the op-ed, Belisario asked: ‘Why did you wait so long to speak about Biden’s condition?’
A smiling Clooney quipped back: ‘Oh, hi man. Are you recording us now? Say hi to Jesse for me,’ in reference to Jesse Watters, who aired the exchange during his Primetime show last week.
‘I’m a huge fan,’ he added, sarcastically.
‘You’re a huge fan? He likes what you did with your hair, George,’ Belisario replied, poking fun at the dyed black hair Clooney wears for his role in the play as CBS News president Fred W. Friendly.
He then asked whether he felt as though he had been ‘used’ by former President Barack Obama to take down Biden.
‘Why are you so nervous? You’re shaking. Literally, he’s shaking,’ Clooney hit back.
Belisario later posted the footage to his own Instagram account, with the caption: ‘I was not shaking, George!’
This is not the first time Belisario’s attempts to stir up an emotional response have backfired, following his 2023 trip to Seattle, in which he attempted to show how ‘crimes and drugs are now expectations in Dem (ocratic) cities’.
However, his trip to the so-called ‘democratic hellscape’ was left lacking its, well, hellscape, after residents shrugged off his attempts at fearmongering.
‘I’ve never seen any crime in Seattle,’ one man declared.
‘I’ve never seen any of it. I’ve seen fun and laughter [instead].’
Another woman looked distrustful and told Johnny: ‘I don’t believe that number.’
As for Clooney, the Hollywood star became something of a scapegoat in the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election, with many blaming him for negatively influencing the election.
However, he has stood by the decision, telling Daily Beast: ‘It was a civic duty. I’m a Democrat in Kentucky – when I saw people on my side of the street not telling the truth, I thought that was time [to say something].
‘Some people are mad, sure. But that’s okay, you know. Listen, the idea of freedom of speech is you can’t demand freedom of speech and then say, “But don’t say bad things about me”.’
He continued: ‘That’s the deal, you have to take your stand if you believe in it. Take a stand, stand for it and then deal with the consequences. That’s the rules.
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