Hunter Biden has lashed out at actor George Clooney over his public criticism of President Joe Biden’s mental fitness, which contributed to the president stepping down from the 2024 election race.
Speaking in a tense interview with YouTube host Andrew Callaghan, Hunter Biden condemned Clooney for questioning his father’s ability to lead, calling his intervention harmful and unnecessary.
The comments come after Clooney published an opinion piece last July urging Joe Biden to exit the race, following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump.
Clooney, who had met the president at a fundraiser in Los Angeles earlier that summer, said Joe Biden appeared confused and disengaged — an impression that mirrored his on-stage debate appearance.
The actor’s op-ed was one of the first major public calls for the president to withdraw.
Less than two weeks later, Joe Biden dropped out and was replaced on the Democratic ticket by Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Hunter Biden challenged Clooney’s account, blaming his father’s debate performance on exhaustion from a tight travel schedule and the use of Ambien, a medication commonly prescribed for sleep issues.
He accused Clooney of interfering in politics without real involvement and suggested the actor’s opinion may have been influenced by differences over Middle East policy.
The issue of Israel came into focus as Clooney’s wife, international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, had backed a legal panel recommending war crime charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — a move President Biden strongly opposed.
Hunter also responded to reports that he had played a larger role in White House matters during his father’s final months, dismissing claims that he was deeply involved despite legal troubles, including a weapons conviction and tax charges.
Joe Biden pardoned his son before leaving office.
In a later interview, Joe Biden said he stood by his decision to step aside but didn’t believe an earlier withdrawal would have altered the election result, which saw Donald Trump defeat Kamala Harris in November.
Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year, reigniting public attention on his health in his final months in office.