George Clooney is applauding Joe Biden’s historic decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race as “the most selfless thing that anybody has done since George Washington.”
His comments, made at the 2024 Venice Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 1, where he is promoting Wolfs, his new film co-starring Brad Pitt, come months after he publicly urged Biden to step down in a passionate essay for The New York Times titled “I Love Joe Biden, But We Need a New Nominee.”
Ahead of Wolfs‘ world premiere at the festival, Clooney, 63, was asked at a press conference to speak to the “impact” his essay had on Biden’s decision to pave the way for Kamala Harris, who is now running as the Democratic candidate.
“The person who should be applauded is the President who did the most selfless thing that anybody has done since George Washington,” Clooney told the room of journalists, as Pitt, 60, sat next to him.
“All of the machinations that got us there, none of that’s going to be remembered, and it shouldn’t be,” he continued. “What should be remembered is the selfless act of someone who did the hardest thing to do. You know we’ve seen it all around the world, and for someone to say, ‘I think there’s a better way forward,’ he gets all the credit, and that’s really the truth.”
Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
In his essay for the NYT, Clooney publicly pulled his support for Biden’s 2024 presidential campaign, urging the White House to consider the impact of keeping him on the ballot.
In the article, Clooney called himself a “lifelong Democrat,” while reminding readers that he co-hosted the Biden campaign’s star-studded Hollywood fundraiser, which he noted was the “single largest fund-raiser supporting any Democratic candidate ever.”
“It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe “big F—ing deal” Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020,” Clooney said, “He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate.”
Clooney expressed his personal fondness for the current president, writing, “I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he’s won many of the battles he’s faced.”
However, the two-time Oscar winner said that “the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time,” referencing the 81-year-old’s age.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Clooney concluded the essay by expressing gratitude for the president — and a plea: “Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024.”
James Devaney/GC Images
Wolfs follows Pitt, 60, and Clooney as lone fixers who get assigned to the same job. Directed, written, and produced by John Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Wolfs also stars Amy Ryan, Poorna Jagannathan and Austin Abrams.
Pitt and Clooney famously starred in the Ocean’s trilogy, along with Burn After Reading, before reuniting for their new film.
A source told PEOPLE in February that the actors were thrilled to collaborate on screen once more.
“Brad and George are forever friends,” the source said. “They like and respect each other no matter how many years in between gigs together. They go way back, and were happy to work together on this film.”
“Wolfs was a meaty project and both took a real interest in it,” the source added. “They are excited about the film, and enjoying the hell out of it as time leads up to the release.”
Wolfs is in theaters Sept. 20 and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on Sept. 27.
