HomePoliticsTrump Slams '60 Minutes' George Clooney Segment as 'Puff Piece'

Trump Slams '60 Minutes' George Clooney Segment as 'Puff Piece'

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson

March 24, 2025

4 min read

Brief

Donald Trump criticizes George Clooney’s '60 Minutes' interview as a 'puff piece,' sparking a heated feud involving CBS, media credibility, and political commentary ahead of the 2024 election.

Donald Trump, never one to shy away from a media tussle, has called George Clooney's recent appearance on CBS' "60 Minutes" a "puff piece." The former president took to TRUTH Social to deliver his fiery critique, branding Clooney a "second-rate movie star" and accusing the show of boosting Clooney's profile while ignoring its alleged "discredited" reputation. Trump’s comments came after the actor-director criticized him during a discussion about his Broadway debut in an adaptation of "Good Night, and Good Luck."

In Trump’s words, "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?" He went on to accuse Clooney of political opportunism, claiming the actor "dumped [President Biden] like a dog" after supporting his election campaign and later shifted gears to endorse Kamala Harris, only to realize that strategy wasn’t effective.

Trump didn’t stop there. He accused "60 Minutes" of fraudulently inserting "fake answers" into Harris' interview before the 2024 presidential election, calling it "one of the most embarrassing and dishonest events in broadcast history." Let’s just say he’s not sending them holiday cards anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Clooney had some heavy-hitting points of his own during the interview. In discussing his Broadway role as journalist Edward R. Murrow, Clooney drew parallels between Murrow's battle against McCarthyism and the challenges journalists face today, particularly under Trump’s administration. Clooney remarked, "We are now at a place where it’s harder and harder to discern the truth. Facts are now negotiated." His comments, though thoughtful, didn’t do much to cool down the firestorm surrounding the segment.

The tension between Trump and CBS runs deep. Trump is currently seeking $20 billion in damages from "60 Minutes" and its parent company, Paramount Global, over an October 2024 interview with Kamala Harris. The former president alleges partisan misconduct and claims the network doctored the interview. CBS has denied the allegations, releasing raw footage and transcripts to back its case, but settlement talks are reportedly ongoing.

Clooney, for his part, took the opportunity to defend his own political stances during the interview. He addressed his controversial New York Times op-ed calling for Biden to step aside, explaining that he felt compelled to "tell the truth" after witnessing the president up close at a fundraiser. Clooney’s critique of his own party included calling out "profiles in cowardice" among Democrats—a sentiment that likely ruffled some feathers.

As for "60 Minutes," the segment showcased Clooney leading a Broadway table read, while the program itself came under fire from Trump’s legal team. The lawsuit highlights the broader battle over media credibility and election interference, with Trump’s camp accusing networks like CBS of undermining journalistic integrity.

In Clooney’s view, the fight for press freedom is nothing new. "Governments don’t like the freedom of the press. They never have," he told "60 Minutes." "It’s a fight for the ages. Journalism and telling truth to power has to be waged like war."

And it seems both Trump and Clooney are suiting up for their respective battles—one in the courtroom, the other on the Broadway stage. Who knew "60 Minutes" could spark such drama?

Topics

Donald TrumpGeorge Clooney60 MinutesCBSmedia feud2024 electionKamala Harrispress freedomParamount Globalpolitical commentaryPoliticsMedia

Editor's Comments

Trump calling George Clooney a 'second-rate movie star' is a bold move, considering Clooney’s Hollywood royalty status. But let’s face it, Trump’s flair for theatrical insults is unmatched—and probably more entertaining than some of Clooney’s films. On another note, Clooney’s criticism about 'negotiated facts' in journalism hits a nerve in today’s media landscape. The irony here is that both men, in their own way, are masters of spinning narratives. This feud is like a heavyweight fight between politics and Hollywood, and honestly, I’m just here for the popcorn.

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