Clooney Compares Trump to His 'O Brother' Character in Venice Masterclass

At a 2026 Venice Film Festival masterclass on 3 September, George Clooney likened President Donald Trump to his 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' character Ulysses Everett McGill, whom director Joel Coen described as thinking he is 'the smartest guy in every room you walk in.' Clooney said he receives mean tweets from the president and can handle them, adding that becoming an actor did not cost him his freedom of speech.