George Clooney Calls Out Donald Trump For Being The Real 'Hollywood Elitist'

The term “Hollywood elitist” has followed George Clooney for over a decade, as his fame rose along with his interest in supporting humanitarian and liberal efforts. Also, his father, Nick Clooney, arguably lost a campaign for Congress in 2004 after attack ads labeled him with that derogatory moniker. Despite an early lead, the race became known as “Heartland vs. Hollywood,”  as Republicans repeatedly brought up that his son is, well, George Clooney.

So it likely comes with extra frustration to Clooney that President Donald Trump keeps attacking Hollywood elitists when he is actually one himself.

Speaking with French journalist Laurent Weil , Clooney explained how Trump is a “demagogue” and hypocrite.

“There’s a really interesting argument, this is the part that makes you a little crazy,” said Clooney, before bringing up Meryl Streep ’s now famous speech at the Golden Globes  on Trump’s policies. “When Meryl spoke, everyone on that one side was, ‘Well that’s elitist Hollywood speaking.’ Donald Trump has 22 acting credits in television ... He collects $120,000 a year in his Screen Actors Guild pension fund. Uhh?! He is a Hollywood elitist.”

Trump’s financial disclosure during the campaign revealed a $110,228 pension from SAG. The IMDb credits for the current president are many and varied.

Clooney added that Streep “has every right to speak up” since “she was an American citizen long before she was an icon.”

The conversation with Weil took place in anticipation of the César Awards’ plans to honor the actor this weekend.

Before the topic changed, Clooney also went in on Trump’s infamous advisor, Steve Bannon. Here’s some of what he had to say :

Steve Bannon is a failed film writer and director. That’s the truth, that’s what he’s done. He wrote a Shakespearean rap musical about the LA riots that he couldn’t get made. He made a lot of money off of “Seinfeld.” He’s elitist Hollywood, I mean that’s the reality.

Clooney actively campaigned for candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election, so his feelings on Trump’s rise to power run deep.

“We have Donald Trump which is ...” Clooney said before pausing, “... hard to imagine. It catches in your throat. But we’ll fix it. We have to.”