Overview
- Trump drew fire after posting on Truth Social that “an entire civilization will die tonight,” a message widely reported as directed at Iran.
- Speaking to students in Cuneo, Italy, Clooney said that calling for the end of a civilization fits international definitions of grave crimes, citing the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute.
- White House communications director Steven Cheung mocked Clooney in comments to The Independent, saying the only person committing war crimes was the actor for his “awful movies” and “terrible acting.”
- Clooney followed with a written statement to Deadline urging a serious public debate, pointing to civilian deaths and warnings that the global economy is at risk.
- The exchange has continued, with Trump posting fresh jabs about the Clooneys’ French citizenship, during a two-week pause the administration announced while talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz proceed.