George Clooney, Juneteenth

Sarcastic George Clooney To President Trump: ‘Thanks For Making Juneteenth Famous’

By Mike Fleming Jr
Mike Fleming Jr

Co-Editor-in-Chief, Film
@DeadlineMike Fleming Jr.

George Clooney Donald Trump


George Clooney had words for President Trump, and sarcasm was the order of the day.

“Thank you President Trump for “making Juneteenth famous, Clooney said in a statement. “Much like when Bull Conner made “Civil Rights” famous. My family will be donating 500 thousand dollars to the Equal Justice Initiative in honor of your heroic efforts.”

Clooney’s message, and donation, came at a moment when the official end of slavery in the U.S. in 1865 is being widely celebrated. And as Trump has issued Twitter warnings against potential protesters showing up for his planned weekend rally in Oklahoma, which he heralded as the kickoff for his reelection campaign. Trump advised protesters to expect harder treatment than in recent Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers who’ve been charged with murder after that appalling and shocking video was seen around the world. There were more incidents during those peaceful protests to go around.

Writing on Twitter, Trump warned what he called “protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or lowlifes,” who, he said would not be given gentle treatment if they massed in Tulsa. This was part of a Twitter torrent that included using a false video of young children to rail against media coverage of American race relations. That one was rebuked by Twitter. “Please understand, you will not be treated like you have been in New York, Seattle, or Minneapolis. It will be a much different scene!” Trump wrote.

Bravo, George!

Happy Juneteenth to all who have relatives that endured the brutal/diabolical institution of slavery.

To all the God Fearing Bible Believers who endured opposition in the pulpit, underground railroad, and the battlefield, we thank you and thank the Heavenly Father/Jesus in standing with you.

President Trump I thank you for letting us know you are a racist.  There are racist in every level of government Congress. Courts, State, Local, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents unfortunately they are not bold enough to let us know.

George Clooney Donating $500K to Equal Justice Initiative in Honor of Juneteenth

George Clooney sarcastically said he was donating in honor of President Trump "making Juneteenth famous"
By Georgia Slater June 19, 2020 02:41 PM


George Clooney

George Clooney is opening up his wallet for a good cause.

The actor, 59, will be donating $500,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative, he tells PEOPLE in a statement.

Clooney said his donation was a response to President Donald Trump's claim that he made Juneteenth — a longstanding holiday that marks the end of slavery — "famous."

"Thank you President Trump for 'making Juneteenth famous.' Much like when Bull Connor made 'Civil Rights' famous. My family will be donating 500 thousand dollars to the Equal Justice Initiative in honor of your heroic efforts," Clooney's statement reads.

Connor was a historically strong opponent of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.

RELATED: CNN's Don Lemon Reacts to Trump Claiming He Made Juneteenth 'Very Famous': 'It's Laughable'

Clooney's remarks come after Trump boasted to the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview that he made the June holiday "very famous" while discussing his controversial decision to host a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday, June 19, amid ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. The rally was eventually moved to the next day, but will still be held in Tulsa, the site of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

"I did something good: I made Juneteenth very famous," he told the newspaper. "It’s actually an important event, an important time. But nobody had ever heard of it."

This isn't Clooney's first time speaking out about the issue of systemic racism in America.

In early June, Clooney wrote an essay for The Daily Beast following a weekend of protests after the death of George Floyd.

The actor began by recalling the events of 1992 when a jury acquitted four white LAPD officers of the violent beating of Rodney King, a black construction worker.

Clooney also honored Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Laquan McDonald and Floyd, people of color who were all killed by police brutality.

"We don’t know when these protests will subside. We hope and pray that no one else will be killed. But we also know that very little will change," Clooney wrote.

RELATED: George Clooney Says Anti-Black Racism Is 'Our Pandemic': 'We've Yet to Find a Vaccine'

"The anger and the frustration we see playing out once again in our streets is just a reminder of how little we’ve grown as a country from our original sin of slavery," Clooney continued. "The fact that we aren’t actually buying and selling other human beings anymore is not a badge of honor."

The Up in the Air star called for "systemic change in our law enforcement and in our criminal justice system," as well as fairness in the justice system that treats all "citizens equally."

When faced with the question of what to do next following protests, Clooney said it was imperative to remember "we created these issues so we can fix them ... And there is only one way in this country to bring lasting change: Vote."

To help combat systemic racism, consider learning from or donating to these organizations:

   Campaign Zero (joincampaignzero.org) which works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies.
   ColorofChange.org works to make the government more responsive to racial disparities.
   National Cares Mentoring Movement (caresmentoring.org) provides social and academic support to help black youth succeed in college and beyond.

Two thumbs up to George for his awesome donation to the Equal Justice Initiative.  Two thumbs down to Trump for another false claim (how many thousands this year so far?) and yet another pathetic display of his textbook narcissism.

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Whereas most of us can merely sigh, gnash our teeth, and slap our foreheads when Donald Trump says ill-informed and intentionally obnoxious things, righteous, wealthy people like George Clooney have the ability to open their wallets and respond in more effective ways.
On Thursday, Trump boasted that his initial plan to hold his rally in Tulsa on Juneteenth “made Juneteenth very famous.” He added that “nobody had ever heard of it” prior to his recent rescheduling. (When an aide pointed out that the Trump White House had, in fact, commemorated the date last year, he said “OK, OK. Good.”)
Clooney, who has referred to Trump as a “xenophobic fascist” in the past, found inspiration in the President’s words.


“Thank you President Trump for 'making Juneteenth famous.' Much like when Bull Connor made 'Civil Rights' famous. My family will be donating 500 thousand dollars to the Equal Justice Initiative in honor of your heroic effort,” he said in a statement.



The Equal Justice Initiative is an Alabama-based non-profit that provides legal representation to the disenfranchised. It was founded by Bryan Stevenson, who was portrayed by Michael B. Jordan in Destin Daniel Cretton’s recent film Just Mercy.
Two months ago George and Amal Clooney donated over $1 million to coronavirus relief funds. They also gave $3.5 million in 2017 to Syrian refugees. The pair head the Clooney Foundation for Justice, a worldwide advocacy group. The CFJ co-sponsors The Sentry, an “investigative and policy team that follows the dirty money connected to African war criminals and transnational war profiteers,” according to their website. Clooney was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2008. The $500,000 to the EJI is part of a pattern of commendable behavior.
If you would like to show appreciation to George Clooney beyond making donations yourself, take a second look (or maybe a first) at his quite fantastic and perennially resonant 2005 film he co-wrote and directed, Good Night, And Good Luck.

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I was always told if you pick a fight you better make sure your first punch is good ... and your last punch the best... but mostly pick your fights carefully... then you won’t have to worry about your last punch...


Can’t help but think there might have been a better song to sing .... A better punch to throw ....