Why George Clooney is furious with Donald Trump
George Clooney has slammed US President Donald Trump's criticism of Hollywood stars as "liberal elites", lambasting the claim as "ridiculous" coming from a real estate magnate born into wealth.
"Here's the thing: I grew up in Kentucky. I sold insurance door-to-door. I sold ladies' shoes. I worked at an all-night liquor store. I would buy suits that were too big and too long and cut the bottom of the pants off to make ties so I'd have a tie to go on job interviews," the actor told the Daily Beast.
“The idea that I'm somehow the 'Hollywood elite' and this guy who takes a shit in a gold toilet is somehow the man of the people is laughable," he said.
Clooney, who is currently promoting his new film Suburbicon, says the liberals who Trump regularly criticises as “coastal elites” largely come from America's Midwest heartland and moved to Hollywood for their careers.
"I laugh when I see him say 'Hollywood elite'," the 56-year-old said. "Hollywood elite? I don't have a star on Hollywood Boulevard. Donald Trump has a star on Hollywood Boulevard! F--- you!"
He also levelled criticisms at Hillary Clinton, who he had officially endorsed during the presidential election.
"She was more qualified than even her husband was when he was elected president, but she's not as good as communicating things ... When she got up and gave a speech, it didn't soar," Clooney said.
"It was frustrating because I never saw her lift her game. I never saw it ... I think that she wasn't particularly good at articulating the things that she wanted to do."