George Clooney found himself in an unexpected exchange outside a New York City theater. The actor, currently starring in the stage production Good Night and Good Luck, was signing autographs when a Fox News producer confronted him. The brief encounter turned into a moment of sharp sarcasm aimed at conservative pundit Jesse Watters.
Johnny Belisario, a producer for Jesse Watters Primetime, approached Clooney with questions about his public stance on President Joe Biden. In July 2024, Clooney wrote a widely discussed op-ed in The New York Times urging Biden to step aside from the 2024 election. The producer wanted to know why Clooney had waited so long to speak out.
Clooney responded with a smile and a jab. He asked if the producer was recording and then told him to send his regards to Watters. He followed it with a sarcastic claim of being a “huge fan,” before teasing the visibly nervous producer for shaking.
Jesse Watters Targets George Clooney Over Biden and Obama Allegations
Footage from the sidewalk exchange aired on Primetime with the caption “Primetime Ambushes The Coup Kick-Starter.” The segment focused on claims that the media shielded the White House from public concern about Biden’s health. It tied Clooney’s op-ed to the Democratic shift away from the former president’s candidacy.
During the encounter, Belisario pushed further, asking whether Barack Obama had used Clooney to influence the race. Clooney didn’t engage seriously, instead making light of the situation. He continued to mock the producer for being visibly nervous during the interaction.
The op-ed in question came after a turbulent stretch for Biden. According to the book Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, Clooney wrote the piece after Biden failed to recognize him at a fundraiser. The president also reportedly performed poorly in the first debate against Donald Trump.
The op-ed was seen as a turning point, accelerating pressure for Biden to step aside. Despite speculation that Obama had a hand in orchestrating the article, Clooney denied those claims. He said his motivation was purely civic, not coordinated.
Eventually, Biden exited the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee. In the general election, Harris lost to Trump.
Though Clooney’s political influence drew scrutiny from conservative media, he kept the tone light during the confrontation. His quick-witted exchange on the sidewalk highlighted both his media savvy and his refusal to take the bait.
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