George Clooney Condemns White House for ‘Infantile Name-Calling’ Amid Iran Conflict
George Clooney has publicly called on the White House to cease what he describes as “infantile name-calling” in response to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The 64-year-old actor and filmmaker made his remarks following a statement from the White House that mocked his acting abilities, which came after he accused former US President Donald Trump of committing war crimes.
Clooney’s comments have sparked a strong reaction from Trump’s administration, with communications director Steven Cheung responding by attacking the actor. Cheung took to social media to accuse Clooney of “awful movies and terrible acting ability.”
The controversy began when Clooney addressed 3,000 high school students at a Clooney Foundation For Justice event in Cuneo, Italy. During the talk, he stated: “Some say Donald Trump is fine. But if anyone says he wants to end a civilisation, that’s a war crime… You can still support the conservative point of view, but there must be a line of decency, and we must not cross it.”
Earlier this week, Trump had warned on Truth Social that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” if Iran did not agree to terms for a ceasefire. It was later reported that a conditional two-week ceasefire was reached.
In a response to Cheung’s comments, shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Clooney emphasized the gravity of the situation. He said: “Families are losing their loved ones. Children have been incinerated. The world’s economy is on a knife’s edge. This is a time for vigorous debate at the highest levels. Not for infantile name-calling.”
Clooney continued: “I’ll start. A war crime is alleged ‘when there is intent to physically destroy a nation,’ as defined by the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute. What is the administration’s defence? [besides calling me a failed actor which I happily agree with having starred in Batman and Robin].”
This is not the first time Clooney and Trump have clashed. In December 2023, Trump criticized Clooney and his wife Amal for obtaining French citizenship, writing: “Good News! George and Amal Clooney, two of the worst political prognosticators of all time, have officially become citizens of France which is, sadly, in the midst of a major crime problem because of their absolutely horrendous handling of immigration, much like we had under Sleepy Joe Biden.”
Trump’s Celebrity Feuds
Donald Trump has had several well-publicized conflicts with celebrities over the years:
Rosie O’Donnell – One of his longest-standing spats, dating back to 2006, Trump called the comedian “a real loser” and “a woman out of control” after she criticized a decision he made as a part-owner of Miss Universe. Following his second election win, she and her family moved to Ireland.
Jimmy Kimmel – Trump blasted him as possibly “the worst host” in Oscars history ahead of the 2024 Academy Awards. Kimmel responded during the telecast, quipping: “Thank you, President Trump. Surprised you’re watching. Isn’t it past your jail time?”
Robert De Niro – The actor has openly criticized Trump, calling him “a jerk, an idiot” and “a clown.” In response, Trump labeled De Niro “a total loser” and claimed his acting talents had “greatly diminished.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger – Initially friendly, things soured when Schwarzenegger replaced Trump on The Apprentice in 2015. Afterward, he announced he had not voted for Trump in the election. When Trump claimed the show had “floundered” since his exit, Schwarzenegger wished him the best and hoped he would serve the American people as vigorously as he had pursued his TV ratings.
Schwarzenegger also branded Clooney “average,” adding: “Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies. He wasn’t a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
In response, Clooney told The Hollywood Reporter: “I totally agree with the current president. We have to make America great again. We’ll start in November.”
November marks the US midterm elections, the results of which could have a significant impact on the rest of Trump’s presidency.
