A forthcoming political exposé, “Original Sin,” alleges that President Joe Biden did not recognize actor George Clooney at a high-profile Democratic fundraiser, reigniting debate about the president’s cognitive health.
According to excerpts from the book by journalists Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper, obtained by the New York Post, the incident occurred on June 13, 2024, at a Los Angeles event co-hosted by Clooney. The authors describe Biden as appearing physically frail and cognitively disengaged upon arrival.
“It was obvious to many standing there that the president did not know who George Clooney was,” the book states. “Clooney was shaken to his core. The president hadn’t recognized him. A man he had known for years.”
The excerpt details Biden’s entrance, with an aide supporting him, and his seemingly robotic acknowledgment of the guests. Clooney, who helped raise $30 million for Biden’s re-election campaign, reportedly watched in disbelief as the president approached him.
“Clooney felt a knot form in his stomach as the president approached him,” the book recounts. The situation became more awkward when Biden failed to address Clooney by name, prompting an aide to intervene.
“‘You know George,’ the assisting aide told the president,” the excerpt reads. “‘Yeah, yeah,’ the president said to one of the most recognizable men in the world and host of this lucrative fundraiser. ‘Thank you for being here.'”
Only after the aide explicitly identified Clooney did Biden respond, “Oh, yeah … Hi, George!”
The encounter reportedly disturbed Clooney, who had previously expressed concerns about Biden’s health. The book suggests that this incident highlighted a more serious issue.
“This was much graver,” the authors wrote. “This was the president of the United States?” An unnamed VIP guest who witnessed the interaction described it as “like watching someone who was not alive. It was startling… It was not okay.”
Subsequently, Clooney allegedly published an op-ed in The New York Times, expressing his concern for Biden’s viability. “It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F**king deal’ Biden of 2010,” he reportedly wrote.
Clooney’s reported assessment reportedly caused anger within Biden’s inner circle. Senior adviser Steve Ricchetti was reportedly furious, and Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, who had invited Clooney to co-host the fundraiser, reportedly disagreed with Clooney’s assessment.
“It’s not fair, what you’re saying,” Katzenberg reportedly told Clooney, to which Clooney replied, “You’re right, it’s not fair… but it’s accurate.”
