Biden appeared 'catatonic,' didn't recognize Clooney before ending campaign, book says

Jami Ganz, New York Daily News on May 13, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Weeks before George Clooney called on President Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, the seemingly “catatonic” commander-in-chief failed to recognize the actor, who he’s known for years.

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s new book, “Original Sin,” pulls back the curtain on the demise of Biden’s reelection efforts and how his botched campaign paved the way for Trump to secure his return to the White House.

“The president appeared severely diminished, as if he’d aged a decade since Clooney last saw him, in December 2022,” reads an excerpt published by The New Yorker, referring to when “Biden hobbled out” to meet longtime supporter Clooney ahead of a mid-June fundraiser he was hosting.

According to the authors, one “Hollywood VIP” in attendance described Biden’s appearance as “startling” — “like watching someone who was not alive.”

As Biden offered the same thanks to each guest, his aide reminded him that he and Clooney had a personal history, the book claims. And though he tried to play it off, it was “clear that the president had not recognized Clooney.”

“It was not O.K.,” recalled the VIP who witnessed the interaction. “The moment where you recognize someone you know — especially a famous person who’s doing a f–king fundraiser for you — it was delayed. It was uncomfortable.'”

According to the book, “Clooney was shaken to his core” by the incident, while other attendees “described Biden as slow and almost catatonic.”

The following month, Clooney penned a New York Times op-ed entitled, “I Love Joe Biden. But we need a new nominee,” that’s been viewed as the turning point that ended the president’s campaign for good.

_____