D.L. Hughley recently expressed strong views on those urging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the upcoming presidential race. His comments, targeting celebrities and politicians alike, were made during a TMZ Live interview on July 10.
Hughley’s Fierce Defense
Hughley criticized former Biden supporters, including actor George Clooney, who suggested Biden step down. Clooney’s op-ed in the New York Times, “I Love Joe Biden, But We Need A New Nominee,” particularly irked Hughley.
“I find the whole tone of this insulting. I really do,” Hughley, 61, stated. “I watched a man get convicted of 34 felonies. I watched a man get adjudicated for sexual battery. I watched a man who got convicted of fraud and never have I ever heard from the media in general about his qualifications to be president.”
Hughley referred to Donald Trump, who, despite being a convicted felon, is still running for office. This, he argued, highlights a double standard in how media and supporters treat Biden versus Trump.
Project 2025 Concerns
Hughley condemned Clooney for not mentioning Project 2025 in his article. Project 2025 includes a series of conservative and right-wing policy proposals that may be implemented if Trump is re-elected.
“In that whole article, [Clooney] didn’t mention Project 2025 once. Neither did [George] Stephanopoulos. None of them did, but you gon’ tell me how someone’s old?” Hughley continued. He stressed that proposals like defunding FBI and Homeland Security, eliminating the Department of Education, and women losing bodily autonomy would disproportionately hurt marginalized communities.
Hughley emphasized the importance of strategic thinking among Democrats, saying, “I will respect people’s right to have their vantage point, but for me, there’s a deciding difference between someone being disappointed by an election and having a disastrous outcome from it.”
Age Versus Consequences
Hughley addressed the argument about Biden’s age, which has been a central point for those wanting him to drop out. Clooney, in his op-ed, wrote, “This is about age. Nothing more. But also nothing that can be reversed. We are not going to win in November with [Biden as] president.”
Hughley responded by labeling calls for Biden to step down as “cowardice” and “hand-wringing.” He argued that Biden’s path to victory as an incumbent would be easier than for a new Democratic nominee. He also pointed out the hypocrisy in overlooking Trump’s criminal record while focusing on Biden’s age.
In summary, Hughley’s passionate defense of Biden underscores his belief that the stakes are too high to consider a new nominee. He views calls for Biden to drop out as misguided and harmful, especially given the potential consequences of a Trump presidency.