The Democratic Party may want to distance itself from Joe Biden in the wake of defeat in the Nov. 5 election, but Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal and others in the blockbuster Broadway revival of “Othello” were delighted to see him and his wife, Jill Biden, at the show’s opening night Sunday.
Joe and Jill Biden completed their Broadway date night by going back-stage where they were greeted with effusive words and applause from Washington, Gyllenhaal and other cast members, according to video shared by Broadway World.
“It’s an honor for us just to have you here and to do our best for you tonight of all nights,” Washington told Biden. “Honestly, it’s an honor and a privilege. From the bottom of my heart and for everyone else, We thanks you for being here tonight. And for your service.”
Washington plays the titular Black general in Shakespeare’s play, while Gyllenhaal plays Iago, the officer who poisons him against his beautiful young wife. Both Washington and Gyllenhaal excitedly shook Biden’s hand, and they and the rest of the cast posed for a group photo with the former president and first lady.
It’s hard to imagine Biden enjoying such a friendly exchange with another movie star who has a big show opening on Broadway this spring A few blocks away, George Clooney is in previews for “Good Night, and Good Luck,” his Broadway performing debut in a stage adaptation of his 2005 movie, “Good Night, and Good Luck.”
Clooney, a lifelong Democrat, was a major Hollywood fundraiser for Biden’s 2024 campaign, but he made headlines last summer by penning a New York Times op-ed that called on the 82-year-old president to drop out of the race, citing his age and disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.
“We are not going to win in November with this president,” Clooney wrote. His op-ed was thought to be a key in Biden’s decision to step down and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place.
In a “60 Minutes” interview Sunday, Clooney defended his op-ed, saying, “I was raised to tell the truth.”
From the White House, Trump took to Truth Social to pounce on Clooney’s words, according to The Guardian. He called Clooney, a major Hollywood antagonist, a “second-rate movie star and failed political pundit.” He also said that Clooney “fought for Sleepy Joe’s election, and then, right after the Debate, dumped him like a dog.” Trump previously called Clooney “a backstabber.”
As much as Clooney would publicly shrug off what Trump said, he might still feel stung by the insinuation that he betrayed Biden. That suggestion came up a lot after Biden stepped down, including on The View. But his press secretary, Karine Jean-Perre, wouldn’t say whether he felt betrayed, Deadline reported. According to Jean-Perre, Biden was understanding. “He understands where people are,” Jean-Pierre said. “He gets where we are as a country.”
Now, Biden is trying to gauge where Democrats are as a party. His appearance at Washington’s “Othello” at the Ethel Barrymore Theater comes a couple days after NBC News reported that he’s told Democratic leaders that he would love to raise money, campaign or do anything else necessary to help the party recover lost ground in the wake of Republicans winning the White House, the Senate and the House.
So far, though, Biden’s overtures have fallen flat, NBC News reported. “Democrats find themselves adrift, casting about for a compelling messenger,” and many party activists don’t see Biden as that messenger. They argue that he’s “tethered to the 2024 defeat” and is “a symbol more of the party’s past than its future,” NBC News said.