‘Infantile Name-Calling’: George Clooney Slams White House After Acting Remark

Tensions between Hollywood and the West Wing flared up again this week as George Clooney pushed back against personal jabs from the current administration regarding his film career. The dispute centers on the legal and moral boundaries surrounding the ongoing Iran war.

George Clooney reacts to White House criticising his acting amid Iran War

The war of words began when Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, threatening that a “whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz. George Clooney addressed those remarks while speaking to 3,000 high school students in Cuneo, Italy, at a Clooney Foundation for Justice event.

“Some say Donald Trump is fine. But if anyone says he wants to end a civilization, that’s a war crime,” Clooney said. He added, “You can still support the conservative point of view, but there must be a line of decency, and we must not cross it,” the actor said, as per Italian news agency ANSA (via Variety).

White House communications director Steven Cheung responded on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “The only person committing war crimes is George Clooney for his awful movies and terrible acting ability.”

Clooney then shared a statement with The Hollywood Reporter, refusing to let the personal attack go unanswered. “Families are losing their loved ones. Children have been incinerated. The world’s economy is on a knife’s edge,” Clooney wrote. “This is a time for vigorous debate at the highest levels. Not for infantile name-calling.”

He continued by reminding the legal definitions, “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 defense? [besides calling me a failed actor which I happily agree with having starred in Batman and Robin?].”

The U.S. and Iran have reportedly since reached a conditional two-week ceasefire as negotiations continue over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: Comingsoon.net