The two-time On Wednesday (April 8), the Oscar winner addressed approximately 3,000 school pupils during a secondary school appearance at the Clooney Foundation for Justice gathering in Cuneo, Italy. According to the Italian news agency, ANSA, the 64-year-old actor told the audience: "Some say Donald Trump is fine.
"But if anyone says he wants to end a civilisation, that's a war crime." My Clooney also urged students to maintain moral boundaries regardless of political affiliation.
He added: "You can still support the conservative point of view, but there must be a line of decency, and we must not cross it." It didn't take long before the White House hit back at the actor's comments.
Communications Director Steven Cheung issued a statement to The Independent hours after his comments, dismissing Clooney's accusations with a personal attack on Clooney's career. He declared: "The only person committing war crimes is George Clooney for his awful movies and terrible acting ability."
The fierce exchange is just the latest in a growing list of spats between the Trump administration and the award-winning movie star. Mr Clooney responded to the White House mockery with a pointed statement highlighting the gravity of the situation.
He told Deadline: "Families are losing their loved ones. Children have been incinerated. The world's economy is on a knife's edge. This is a time for vigorous debate at the highest levels. Not for infantile name-calling."
Clooney went on to outline the legal basis for his accusation, explaining: "A war crime is alleged 'when there is intent to physically destroy a nation' as defined by the Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute.
"What is the administration's defence? [besides calling me a failed actor, which I happily agree with, having starred in Batman and Robin?]" His comments come after Trump's explosive response to the disputed Strait of Hormuz.
A conditional two-week ceasefire was subsequently reached on Tuesday (April 7), brokered with Pakistani assistance. The announced: "Under the agreement, Iran committed to temporarily reopening the vital shipping lane, which handles roughly a fifth of global and gas transit, in return for a pause in US and Israeli military strikes."
