George Clooney Accuses Donald Trump of War Crime; White House Responds to Actor's Criticism

On April 8, during a speech to 3,000 high school students in Cuneo, Italy, renowned American actor George Clooney expressed his views on President Donald Trump's recent declaration regarding the 'death of an entire civilization.' Clooney, who organized the event through his Justice Foundation, emphasized that Trump's threat constitutes a war crime.

'Some say that everything is fine with Donald Trump. But if someone says they want to end civilization, that is a war crime. You can still support a conservative viewpoint, but there must be a line of decency, and we should not cross it,' the actor stated, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

In response to these statements, White House Communications Director Steven Chung commented to the Independent, asserting, 'The only person committing war crimes is George Clooney, who makes terrible movies and acts terribly.' This remark indicates that the Trump administration did not remain indifferent to the actor's criticism.

Further elaborating on his statement in an interview with Deadline, Clooney explained that his words were prompted by the severe consequences of war. 'Families are losing their loved ones. Children are being burned. The global economy is on a knife's edge. This is a time for serious debates at the highest level. Not for childish insults,' he remarked. Clooney also reminded that a war crime is defined as 'when there is an intent to physically destroy a nation,' as enshrined in the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute.

The actor humorously agreed with the notion that he is a bad actor, referencing his role in the film 'Batman & Robin.' This suggests that Clooney is attempting to maintain a light-hearted tone in his communication despite the gravity of the topic he raises.

Clooney is known as a long-time supporter and donor of the Democratic Party. He has repeatedly expressed his political views, considering it his moral duty. According to him, this stance is influenced by his father's career as a journalist and his marriage to human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.

In 2024, Clooney urged then-President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, highlighting his active engagement in politics. In March 2025, he criticized the Trump administration over lawsuits against ABC and CBS, demonstrating his ongoing attention to political events.

Additionally, earlier this year in January, Trump also commented on Clooney, criticizing France's decision to grant the actor and his family French citizenship. Trump referred to the Clooney family as 'the two worst political prognosticators of all time,' emphasizing the conflict between them.

'Clooney has received more publicity through politics than through his very few and absolutely mediocre films. He was not a movie star at all; he was just an average guy who constantly complained about common sense in politics,' the U.S. president added, reflecting the tension between actors and politicians in contemporary society.