Biden in Decline: Clooney Fundraiser Reveals Stark Reality
Joe Biden, despite his presidential title, seemed embarrassingly unable to place the renowned actor George Clooney at a high-profile fundraising event designed for his own campaign. A startling report in a recent book that deals with the ex-president’s diminishing physical and mental health paints an unflattering portrait of Biden, testifying to his decreasing ability to fulfil presidential duties and the taxing rhythm of his re-election campaign by 2024.
Clooney, always the supporter, had interrupted his busy shoot in Europe to fly to Los Angeles and attend the fundraiser occurring on June 15, 2024, which eventually amassed a staggering $30 million in contributions. However, Clooney’s optimism likely went down a few notches when he witnessed the arrival of Biden, fresh—or perhaps not so fresh—from the G7 summit in Italy, looking startlingly worn out at the Peacock Theatre.
But not even the efforts of a supporting aide or the expecting crowd seemed to rejuvenate Biden. An anonymous Hollywood personality watching the scene unfold compared the presidential appearance to a ‘specter’, fueling an uneasy atmosphere within the crowd. Rather than impressing his elite guests, Biden’s hapless state made the event painfully awkward.
Biden’s cognitive decline was alarmingly evident when he offered Clooney, a universally recognized figure, the same generic acknowledgment he tossed at everyone, seemingly failing to recognize the reputed celebrity. The futile attempt of an aide prompting ‘You know George’ didn’t stir any sign of recognition from an absent-minded Biden.
In a seemingly scripted small-talk exchange, Clooney asked Biden about his recent G7 trip. The unspirited response ‘It was fine’ from the president did little to dissipify the growing concern around Biden’s cognitive state. Such iconic figures usually leave a lasting impression, yet the president seemed oblivious to Clooney’s identity.
It was only after an aide’s explicit hint–‘George Clooney’–that Biden finally seemed to connect the dots, offering a belated ‘Oh, yeah! Hi George!’ The unsettling conversation, dissected in the book ‘Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again’ only served to deepen concerns about Biden’s ability to execute his presidential duties.
The event itself, rather than rallying support around the incumbent, left most attendees worrying about Biden’s cognitive health. Former president Barack Obama, always on hand to pick up the pieces of his party, had to guide a visibly struggling Biden off the stage during an optimistic Q&A.
Biden’s precarious mental state wasn’t confined solely to private events. His incoherence was put on full display less than two weeks later during a televised presidential debate, with his nonsensical declarations leaving viewers puzzled. A standout was his nonsensical statement: ‘We finally beat Medicare’.
Despite these red flags, Biden initially decided to pursue re-election before finally acknowledging his limitations and endorsing Kamala Harris as his replacement. Many speculate that this decision, which hindered the path to an open primary contest, impacted the Democratic party adversely which might’ve resulted in their loss against Trump in November 2024.
Some members of the Democratic Party attempted to shift focus from Biden’s glaring shortcomings, emphasizing the need to look forward instead. Senate Democrats’ leader Chuck Schumer, along with potential 2028 presidential candidate, governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, dismissed the events as irrelevant to the party’s future plans.
Surprisingly, 82-year-old Biden and his wife Jill chose to refute the claims of his decline live on TV. While Biden pointed to his last six months in office as a testament to his capability, most viewers disagreed, noting another confused performance during the notorious debate.
Biden’s perception of events diverged from reality when he said, ‘The Democratic Party at large didn’t buy into it, but the Democratic leadership, and some of the very significant contributors did’. However, following the tumultuous debate, Clooney publicly admonished his friend Biden, begging him to withdraw from the race.
Clooney, now less of a supporter and more of a conscious citizen, penned an opinion piece two weeks after the debate. He expressed his concern, claiming ‘The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time’, a sentiment shared by many after the troubling incidents.
Doubts about Biden’s capabilities were intensified by Clooney’s op-ed, where he stated, ‘The Biden he saw at the fundraiser was the same man we all witnessed at the debate’. It showed an aging president struggling with the implacable enemy of time, spotlighting a stark difference from the leader many expected and further eroding their faith in him.