At a June fundraiser in Los Angeles, some of the president’s biggest backers had their eyes opened.
When aides to President Joe Biden heard in recent days that George Clooney, as close a figure as there is in Hollywood to royalty, planned to publicly break with Biden in an essay that cast doubt on his re-election chances, panic set in from Delaware to California. Could Clooney be persuaded not to publish it?
And Hollywood has disproportionately voiced some of the earliest and most aggressive calls for Biden to drop out. Ari Emanuel, the power agent who is the brother of Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff to President Barack Obama, said days after the debate that Biden’s insistence in staying in the race was a “self-aggrandising delusion on a Trumpian scale”.
At the end, Biden soaked up the applause – perhaps a beat too long. Obama gently took his hand and led him away. A video of the moment went viral. Was the 44th president being impatient, or was the 46th freezing up?Credit:“There were a lot of fans in the crowd, like me,” said Roger Wolfson, a Hollywood writer. “But there was also nervousness. A lot of dry grass – and while the debate could have watered the grass, it seems to have served more like a match.
Biden’s allies have also responded by going after Clooney, arguing that he did not spend enough time with Biden at the event to assess his strength — just about 10 minutes, according to a campaign staff member who was present.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Should the Democrats replace Joe Biden as presidential candidate? History says it's a risky moveJoe Biden has jet lag. Joe Biden has a cold. Joe Biden was over-prepared. Joe Biden was under-prepared. Joe Biden has a stutter. Defenders of the president have trotted out plenty of excuses since last week's catastrophic first debate against Donald Trump.
Read more »
‘Biden can’t do it’: European politicians shocked by US president’s debate flopSome call for rethink by Democrats and say continent must step up preparations for another Trump termBiden v Trump debate aftermath – live
Read more »
‘Biden can’t do it’: western politicians shocked by US president’s debate flopSome call for rethink by Democrats and say Europe must step up preparations for another Trump term
Read more »
‘There are going to be discussions’: How the Democrats could replace Joe BidenDelegates pledged, money spent, ballots printed: With Biden having already secured a presumptive nomination, Democrats’ prospects for a course change are diminishing.
Read more »
What happens if Joe Biden drops out of the presidential race?Joe Biden&x27;s spotty debate performance immediately triggered new questions from worried Democrats about whether he would leave the presidential race.
Read more »
Anthony Albanese reacts to Joe Biden’s disaster debate performancePrime Minister Anthony Albanese has brushed aside concerns about Joe Biden's suitability for office following the President’s bizarre performance in the first debate against Donald Trump, which sparked calls for the 81-year-old to step down.
Read more »