Actor and prominent Democratic donor George Clooney named Maryland Governor Wes Moore as his top pick among potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that aired Wednesday.
Clooney, an outspoken political voice in Hollywood and a longtime contributor to Democrat campaigns, said Moore is currently standing out from the rest of the party’s possible future White House hopefuls.
“There’s one person in particular I think is spectacular,” Clooney told Tapper when asked who he believed could lead the Democratic Party in a post-Biden political landscape.
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While offering praise for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Clooney pointed to Moore as a rising figure within the party.
“Who I think is who I think is levitating above that is Wes Moore,” Clooney said.
The Academy Award-winning actor cited Moore’s military service, handling of a major infrastructure disaster, and past leadership at a philanthropic organization with ties to billionaire George Soros as reasons for his enthusiasm.
“I think he is a guy that has handled this tragedy in Baltimore beautifully,” Clooney said, referring to Moore’s response to the March 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“He does two tours of duty in Afghanistan – active duty. He speaks beautifully. He’s smart. He ran a hedge fund – the Robin Hood Foundation. He’s a proper leader.”
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Clooney continued, “I like him a lot. I think he could be someone we could all join in behind.”
George Clooney praised Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as a standout Democratic leader on @CNN with Jake Tapper, citing his handling of the Baltimore bridge collapse and military service. pic.twitter.com/ajCYi9usu5
— Margot Vance (@margot46709) April 17, 2025
The Robin Hood Foundation, where Moore previously served as CEO, is a New York-based nonprofit funded in part by George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
Clooney has been vocal about Democratic Party strategy in recent years. In 2024, he published a New York Times op-ed calling for Joe Biden to step aside from the presidential race.
During his interview with Tapper, Clooney warned that the party is running out of time to consolidate support behind a strong candidate for the next presidential election.
“We have to find somebody rather soon,” he said, acknowledging that Democrats “are right now polling very poorly.”
Moore, 46, supported Joe Biden during the 2024 campaign cycle before Biden’s eventual withdrawal from the race, amid growing scrutiny over his age and cognitive health.
Moore has faced past controversy, including a 2023 New York Times report that revealed he had falsely claimed to have received a Bronze Star on a White House fellowship application submitted in 2006. The Maryland governor said the error was “an honest mistake.”
MD Governor Wes Moore Caught Committing Stolen Valor after supporting Walz who also committed stolen valor…. pic.twitter.com/xnYsPZHlLQ
— Project Constitution (@ProjectConstitu) September 7, 2024
Clooney’s remarks come as the Democratic Party begins assessing its options for the 2028 presidential election.
While no official candidates have entered the race, speculation has intensified around several governors and senators as possible contenders.
Moore, a first-term governor and former Army captain, was elected in 2022 and is Maryland’s first Black governor.
His handling of the Key Bridge collapse, which killed multiple individuals and disrupted major transportation routes, had received national attention.
The Democratic field for 2028 remains wide open, but endorsements and attention from high-profile donors such as Clooney are likely to influence the early narrative as the party begins to regroup and look toward the future.
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