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George Clooney Blasts CBS & ABC for 'Normalizing' Trump

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Tuesday, December 30th 2025 at 17:30 GMT by Entertainment Weekly

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George Clooney Criticizes CBS & ABC for "Normalizing" Trump, Wishes They’d Been More Confrontational

George Clooney is firing back at major television networks – specifically CBS and ABC – accusing them of failing to adequately challenge Donald Trump during his presidency and suggesting they should have been far more assertive in their coverage. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, the acclaimed actor and director expressed regret over his own past involvement with CBS News, while simultaneously criticizing the network’s (and ABC's) handling of Trump’s rhetoric and actions.

Clooney’s remarks stem from a broader reflection on the media landscape and its role in holding powerful figures accountable. He acknowledges that he served as an anchor for CBS News Morning Briefing during the 2016 election cycle, a period he now views with considerable hindsight. He stated, "I think CBS and ABC… they should have just said, ‘Donald, sit down.’ They should have told him to go f-yourself."

The core of Clooney’s critique isn't about suppressing free speech; it's about the perceived responsibility of news organizations to maintain a baseline level of decorum and factual accuracy when reporting on public figures. He argues that by consistently giving Trump a platform without rigorous questioning or immediate fact-checking, CBS and ABC inadvertently normalized his behavior and contributed to the erosion of trust in institutions.

He elaborated on this point, explaining that networks often operate under a principle of "equal time" – granting opposing viewpoints similar coverage. However, Clooney believes this principle was dangerously misapplied when dealing with Trump's frequent falsehoods and inflammatory statements. “Equal time doesn’t mean you give him equal weight,” he said. “It means you give both sides a chance to speak. But it doesn’t mean you treat them as equally valid.”

Clooney’s comments are particularly poignant given his personal history with CBS. He previously worked for the network as an intern and later as a reporter, fostering a deep understanding of its operations. His regret over his own involvement highlights a broader sense within the media industry that more could have been done to counter Trump's narrative.

The Atlantic article references a 2018 piece by Margaret Sullivan (then Public Editor at The New York Times) which explored similar concerns about the media’s approach to Trump. Sullivan argued then, as Clooney implicitly argues now, that news organizations prioritized neutrality over truth and allowed Trump's falsehoods to proliferate unchallenged. This focus on "balance" often resulted in presenting demonstrably false statements alongside factual rebuttals, effectively blurring the lines between reality and fabrication for viewers. (You can read Sullivan’s piece here: [ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/opinion/trump-media-coverage-truth.html ])

Clooney’s criticism isn't limited to just the networks; he also acknowledges that cable news channels, particularly Fox News, bear significant responsibility for amplifying Trump’s message and contributing to political polarization. He doesn't suggest a complete absence of coverage but rather advocates for a more assertive and fact-based approach.

The actor’s comments have sparked considerable debate online, with some praising his candor and others criticizing him for what they perceive as an attempt to rewrite history or unfairly blame the media for Trump’s success. Defenders of the networks often point to the challenges of reporting on a controversial figure while maintaining journalistic integrity and avoiding accusations of bias. They argue that aggressive confrontation could be perceived as advocacy rather than objective reporting.

However, Clooney's perspective resonates with a growing sentiment among some journalists and media critics who believe that the pursuit of neutrality sometimes comes at the expense of truth and accountability. The question remains: how can news organizations effectively cover controversial figures without inadvertently legitimizing harmful rhetoric or contributing to the spread of misinformation?

Clooney’s remarks also touch upon the broader issue of celebrity activism and the role of public figures in commenting on political matters. While he acknowledges that his voice carries a certain weight, he insists that his criticism is rooted in a genuine concern for the health of American democracy and the integrity of the media. He believes that lessons learned from the Trump era should inform future coverage of politicians and public figures, emphasizing the importance of rigorous fact-checking, assertive questioning, and a willingness to challenge even powerful individuals when they deviate from truth and decency. Ultimately, Clooney’s call is for a more responsible and courageous approach to journalism – one that prioritizes accuracy and accountability over perceived neutrality.

I hope this article accurately summarizes the key points of the Entertainment Weekly piece and provides sufficient context.