In a scathing critique, actor and filmmaker George Clooney has publicly denounced major television networks CBS and ABC for their decisions to settle lawsuits filed by former President Donald Trump. Clooney, speaking in a Variety cover story published on Tuesday, expressed fury over what he sees as a capitulation that undermines press freedom.
A Surrender to Legal Pressure
Clooney's anger is directed at two specific legal settlements. First, CBS's parent company Paramount settled a lawsuit Trump brought against "60 Minutes" just before Paramount's merger with Skydance, a deal that needed regulatory approval from the Trump administration. Second, ABC News reached a settlement with Trump in a separate defamation case in December of last year.
The actor argued that these networks missed a crucial opportunity to stand up for journalistic principles. "If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, 'Go fuck yourself,' we wouldn't be where we are in the country," Clooney stated bluntly, emphasizing his belief that such resistance is vital for a healthy democracy.
Clooney's Personal Connection to Journalism
Clooney's concerns are deeply personal. He is the son of journalist Nick Clooney and was a journalism major in college. Earlier this year, he portrayed the legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow in a Broadway adaptation of his film "Good Night, and Good Luck." Murrow is renowned for using his CBS platform to confront Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare.
Drawing a stark contrast, Clooney pointed to what he perceives as a "rightward tilt" at CBS News under Paramount CEO David Ellison, a noted Trump ally. He also singled out the recent appointment of conservative journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News, claiming she is "dismantling CBS News as we speak." He referenced her controversial move to hold a "60 Minutes" report on the CECOT prison in El Salvador as evidence of this shift.
The Broader Threat to an Informed Public
For Clooney, the issue transcends individual networks or personalities. "I'm worried about how we inform ourselves and how we're going to discern reality without a functioning press," he told Variety. He described the current climate, influenced by Trump—a man he was once friendly with—as a "very trying time" that conflicts with the ideals Murrow championed.
Despite the grim outlook, Clooney urged perseverance over despair. "It can depress you or make you very angry. But you have to find the most positive way through it," he argued. "You have to put your head down and keep moving forward because quitting isn't an option." His comments serve as a stark warning about the state of American media and its role in safeguarding democratic discourse.
