“I knew him very well”: George Clooney describes Trump as “big goofball” as he recalls past friendship with president

Long before being the 45th and 47th U.S. President, Donald Trump was also a real estate mogul who frequently collaborated with the entertainment industry. Donald's fame grew like wildfire after being a part of the NBC reality show, The Apprentice. Before he stepped into the Oval Office, Donald had made his moves everywhere, from authoring several books, appearing in movies, to even securing the WWE Hall of Fame title.

Recently, George Clooney has made headlines as he reflected on his past friendship with the President. Clooney shared the memories he had about the President in a report shared by Variety on Tuesday, December 30.

“I knew him very well, he used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon. I’d see him out at clubs and at restaurants,” shared Clooney.

However, the Jay Kelly actor explained later that Trump's personality changed once he entered politics.

"He’s a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed,” added Clooney.

After George Clooney, Josh Brolin shares his unfiltered views on President Trump:

George Clooney wasn't the only star who shared his opinion about the President publicly. As per a report shared by Us Weekly last month, Weapons actor Josh Brolin also opened up about his past friendships with the Republican leader. Brolin discussed his opinions with The Independent about the President's claim that he's considering a third term despite it being unconstitutional.

“I’m not scared of Trump, because even though he says he’s staying forever, it’s just not going to happen, and if it does, then I’ll deal with that moment,” shared Brolin.

Brolin explained Trump's secret to success and hailed the MAGA figurehead as a skilled marketeer.

“There is no greater genius than him in marketing — he takes the weakness of a general population and fills it, And that’s why I think a lot of people feel that they have a mascot in him. I think it’s much less about Trump than it is about the general population and their need for validation,” explained Josh Brolin.

George Clooney pushes back after the President calls him a “second-rate movie star”:

Trump's once-fun friendship with George Clooney changed into something bitter in recent years. As per a report shared by The Guardian, in March, Clooney, a prominent Democrat activist, was promoting a Broadway production on 60 Minutes, when he also spoke about political issues. George Clooney shared his opinion about institutional pressures on journalists and the Trump administration's take on the same.

“ABC has just settled a lawsuit with the Trump administration. And CBS News is in the process … We’re seeing this idea of using government to scare or fine or use corporations – to make journalists smaller,” shared Clooney.

“Governments don’t like the freedom of the press. They never have. And that goes for whether you are a conservative or a liberal or whatever side you’re on. They don’t like the press,” he added.

President Donald used Truth Social to address Clooney’s arguments and to offer a broadside against the show.

“Why would the now highly discredited 60 Minutes be doing a total ‘puff piece’ on George Clooney, a second-rate movie ‘star’ and failed political pundit,” wrote the President.

“He fought hard for Sleepy Joe’s election, and then, right after the Debate, dumped him like a dog. Later, I assume under orders from the Obama camp, pushed all out for ‘Kamala,’ only to soon realise that this was not going to work out too well,” added the President.

As per a report shared by The Guardian in April 2025, George Clooney later responded to the conservative icon's criticism and shared that he wasn't bothered about the president's verbal abuse. The Ocean's Eleven actor spoke to Gayle King on CBS Mornings and shared his opinion:

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“I don’t care. I’ve known Donald Trump for a long time. My job is not to please the president of the United States. My job is to try and tell the truth when I can and when I have the opportunity. I am well aware of the idea that people will not like that.”

“People will criticise that. Elon Musk has weighed in [about me]. That is their right. It’s my right to say the other side,” added Clooney.

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