George Clooney has described President Joe Biden as “selfless” for his choice to withdraw as the Democratic candidate for this year’s presidential election.

While at a press event on Sunday during the Venice Film Festival for his eagerly awaited film “Wolfs,” Clooney discussed his provocative July opinion piece in The New York Times, which urged Biden to consider exiting the 2024 race. “I guess I’ll address it here,” the actor stated, prompting applause from the audience.

“The one who deserves applause is the president for doing the most selfless act since George Washington,” Clooney remarked in a video posted by Deadline. “No one will remember the political maneuvering that led to this moment, nor should they… What should be celebrated is the noble decision of someone who understands how difficult it is to relinquish power. We’ve witnessed this struggle globally, and for someone to step back and say, ‘I believe there’s a better path ahead,’ he deserves all the credit, and that’s the fact.”

Clooney ignited debate in July with his op-ed, where he contended that the Democratic party required a new candidate.

“If we stick with this president, we’re unlikely to win come November. Furthermore, we won’t reclaim the House, and we’ll likely lose the Senate,” Clooney expressed in his New York Times article. “This is not just my perspective; it reflects what every senator, representative, and governor I’ve spoken to privately believes. Every single one, regardless of their public statements.”

A lifelong Democrat, Clooney was part of a lineup of prominent celebrities who recently helped organize a high-profile fundraiser for Biden’s campaign in Hollywood, which raised $30 million.

In his article, Clooney noted that Biden seemed different at the Los Angeles fundraiser than the man he had known for years, pointing out that the one challenge Biden cannot conquer is “the passage of time.”

“This isn’t solely my belief; it is shared by every senator, congress member, and governor I’ve spoken with behind closed doors. All of them, no matter their public stance,” Clooney stated.

On July 21, President Biden officially withdrew his candidacy for re-election, facing significant pressure from Democratic leadership who raised alarms about his diminishing chances against former President Donald Trump.

Following Biden’s decision, on July 23, Clooney praised him for stepping back from the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

“President Biden has exemplified what true leadership looks like,” Clooney said in a statement released to CNN. “He’s safeguarding democracy once more. We are all thrilled to support Vice President Harris in her groundbreaking campaign.”

George Clooney refutes reports of $35M salary for ‘Wolfs’

On Sunday, while discussing the upcoming film “Wolfs” alongside co-star Brad Pitt in Venice, Clooney responded to a recent report from The New York Times that claimed the actors were each compensated “over $35 million.”

Clooney remarked that it was “an interesting article,” but insisted the figures were “millions and millions and millions of dollars less” than reported. He expressed concern, stating that such inflated salary rumors could be detrimental to the industry.

“I find that troubling, as it may lead to a situation where making films becomes unfeasible,” he added.

Contributing: Joey Garrison, Sudiksha Kochi, Pamela Avila, YSL News