Actor George Clooney has slammed US President Donald Trump's criticism of Hollywood's stars as "liberal elites", calling the claim "ridiculous" coming from a real estate magnate born into wealth.
"Here's the thing: I grew up in Kentucky. I sold insurance door-to-door. I sold ladies' shoes. I worked at an all-night liquor store. I would buy suits that were too big and too long and cut the bottom of the pants off to make ties so I'd have a tie to go on job interviews," Clooney, 56, told the Daily Beast.
More Entertainment News Videos
- Video duration
- 00:57
George Clooney rips on Trump, Bannon and ...
George Clooney rips on Trump, Bannon and Clinton
Actor George Clooney has slammed US President Donald Trump's labelling of Hollywood's stars as "liberal elites", and also levelled criticisms against Steve Bannon and even Hillary Clinton.
Up Next
2017: A year in film
- Video duration
- 02:51
- Video duration
- 02:51
2017: A year in film
2017: A year in film
With a flood of misconduct allegations, an awards mishap, female directors and African-American film on the rise, 2018 has been a huge year for film.
Up Next
Trailer: Atlanta
- Video duration
- 01:00
- Video duration
- 01:00
Trailer: Atlanta
Trailer: Atlanta
Two cousins, with different views on art versus commerce, on their way up through the Atlanta rap scene; Earn, an ambitious college drop-out and his estranged cousin, who suddenly becomes a star.
Up Next
Sound of Music actress dies
- Video duration
- 01:06
- Video duration
- 01:06
Sound of Music actress dies
Sound of Music actress dies
After a brief battle with cancer, Heather Menzies-Urich, who played Louisa in the classic musical, has died.
Up Next
Matt Damon's father dies of cancer
- Video duration
- 01:04
- Video duration
- 01:04
Matt Damon's father dies of cancer
Matt Damon's father dies of cancer
Actor Matt Damon's father has died at age 74 after a long battle with multiple Myeloma, a rare blood disease that affects bone marrow.
Up Next
Entertainment news highlights
- Video duration
- 02:27
- Video duration
- 02:27
Entertainment news highlights
Entertainment news highlights
The Last Jedi's massive opening weekend, Disney buys Fox's film and TV properties, Salma Hayek and Peter Jackson reveal more about Harvey Weinstein's history and Matt Damon in trouble over comments.
Up Next
Boxing Day movies 2017
- Video duration
- 02:21
- Video duration
- 02:21
Boxing Day movies 2017
Boxing Day movies 2017
A guide to what's opening on the biggest cinema-going day of the year.
Up Next
Musicians on Hottest 100 date change
- Video duration
- 02:49
- Video duration
- 02:49
Musicians on Hottest 100 date change
Musicians on Hottest 100 date change
While walking the ARIA's red carpet, Australian musicians talk about changing the date of Triple J's Hottest 100.
George Clooney rips on Trump, Bannon and Clinton
Actor George Clooney has slammed US President Donald Trump's labelling of Hollywood's stars as "liberal elites", and also levelled criticisms against Steve Bannon and even Hillary Clinton.
"The idea that I'm somehow the 'Hollywood elite' and this guy who takes a shit in a gold toilet is somehow the man of the people is laughable," he said.
The actor - who was promoting Suburbicon, his upcoming satire on race relations starring Matt Damon - said liberals in the entertainment industry, whom Trump regularly chastises as "coastal elites", largely hail from America's Midwest heartland and moved to Hollywood for their careers.
"I laugh when I see him say 'Hollywood elite'," Clooney said.
"Hollywood elite? I don't have a star on Hollywood Boulevard. Donald Trump has a star on Hollywood Boulevard! F--- you!"
Clooney also didn't hold back on Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon - largely deemed responsible for the administration's appeal to the alt-right - calling him a "pussy".
"Steve Bannon is a little wannabe writer who would do anything in the world to have had a script made in Hollywood," Clooney said, referring to Bannon's notorious forays into the film world.
"Here's the truth: if Steve Bannon had Hollywood say, 'Oh, this is a really good script,' and they had made his movie, he'd still be in Hollywood writing his f---in' movies and kissing my ass to be in one of his f---in' films," Clooney said.
Clooney, surprisingly, also levelled criticisms at Hillary Clinton, whom he had officially endorsed during the presidential election, including a fundraiser hosted at his home that charged attendees almost $US450,000 per table.
"She was more qualified than even her husband was when he was elected president, but she's not as good as communicating things ... When she got up and gave a speech, it didn't soar," Clooney said.
"It was frustrating because I never saw her lift her game. I never saw it ... I think that she wasn't particularly good at articulating the things that she wanted to do."
He offered a foolproof strategy for the Democrats' next presidential hopeful, saying they "should just run with a blue hat that says 'Make America Great Again'."
Suburbicon, which Clooney directed from a script by Oscar winners the Coen Bros, opens in cinemas on October 26.