According to an upcoming book, former U.S. President Joe Biden failed to recognize actor George Clooney during a fundraising event in Los Angeles that Clooney hosted in support of Biden’s 2024 presidential campaign.
The incident has been highlighted as a turning point, raising serious concerns about Biden’s health in the final weeks before he stepped away from his reelection bid.
At the backstage reception where the event hosts, including Clooney and actress Julia Roberts, were greeting guests and posing for photographs, Clooney experienced a moment that left him deeply shaken.
Fundraiser Mishap Raises Concerns
Once Biden entered the room, his condition surprised many. The book describes him as looking drastically older compared to when Clooney had last seen him in December 2022. As the former president moved slowly, one of his aides supported him by the arm and tried to direct him toward the guests.
While introducing Biden to Clooney, the aide reminded him by saying, “You know George.” Clooney, one of the most recognized figures in entertainment and a host of the event, stood waiting as Biden responded with, “Yeah, yeah. Thank you for being here,” without giving any clear sign of recognition.
The book explains that it became obvious Biden did not know who Clooney was at that moment. The aide then repeated, “George Clooney,” to jog the president’s memory. Biden replied again, saying, “Oh, yeah! Hi, George!”
Biden’s Condition Before Debate Collapse
That fundraiser ended up being a turning point ahead of Biden’s debate performance against Donald Trump just twelve days later. The president had difficulty finishing his thoughts and often gave unclear answers during the June 27 event, which added to the questions about his condition.
The Hollywood fundraiser raised over $30 million and was expected to provide a boost to Biden’s campaign. Biden’s packed travel schedule may have contributed to his state that day. Before arriving in Los Angeles, he had attended the Group of Seven summit in Italy for two days.
That trip came right after another visit to Europe, where he joined commemorations for D-Day’s 80th anniversary in France. Between both overseas visits, Biden briefly returned to the U.S. to be in Wilmington, Delaware, as his son Hunter Biden awaited the verdict in his gun trial.
Audience Reaction at the Hollywood Event
The fundraiser brought together some of the biggest names in politics and entertainment, including former President Barack Obama and television host Jimmy Kimmel. During the event, they all appeared on stage with Biden.
According to the book, those in the room were disturbed by the former president’s behavior. His answers to gentle questions from Kimmel were lengthy, scattered, and sometimes hard to follow. People noticed that Biden seemed physically weak and mentally unfocused.
After the 30-minute onstage discussion, Biden appeared confused and gave a vacant look toward the audience before turning to walk away. Obama then reached for his arm and guided him behind the curtain.
One person in the crowd, Representative Annie Kuster, reportedly watched Biden during the event and was struck by how much he seemed to struggle to interact. She likened the experience to being around a grandparent whose health might suddenly decline, making her wonder what might happen next.
