Obama KNEW George Clooney was going to write New York Times op-ed demanding Biden drop out and did NOTHING about it

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George Clooney gave Barack Obama a head's up about his New York Times' op-ed demanding Joe Biden drop out of the presidential race and former president did nothing to stop it, a shocking new report revealed on Thursday.

While Obama didn't encourage or advise Clooney, he also didn't object, sources told Politico. 

Clooney's demand sent shockwaves throughout the Democratic Party and the report that Obama knew about it is fueling speculation he is secretly working to oust Biden as the nominee - despite publicly defending the president after his dismal debate performance. 

'The Biden campaign and many Democratic officials do believe that Barack Obama is quietly working behind the scenes to orchestrate this,' MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, who is frequently in touch with the campaign, said on Thursday of Clooney's op-ed. 

Neither Obama's office nor Clooney's representative responded immediately to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

George Clooney gave Barack Obama a head's up about his New York Times ' op-ed and the former president did nothing to stop it - above Clooney and Obama in 2006

Obama and Clooney are close, having worked together on issues in Africa while Obama was president. Clooney was a frequent visitor to the White House during that era.

The former president also was in attendance at the record-breaking $28 million fundraiser Clooney hosted for Biden on June 16. 

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Clooney reference that night in his op-ed.

'I love Joe Biden. As a senator. As a vice president and as president. I consider him a friend, and I believe in him. Believe in his character. Believe in his morals. In the last four years, he's won many of the battles he's faced,' Clooney wrote.

'But the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can. It's devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fund-raiser was not the Joe 'big F-ing deal' Biden of 2010. He wasn't even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,' he said. 

That fundraiser was overshadowed with questions about the president's health after a video appeared to show Obama having to guide Biden off stage. 

The White House called the video a fake. Officials also noted the fundraiser took place the day after Biden returned from participating in the G7 summit in Italy.

But it's taking on a new light after Biden's debate performance, where, at times, he struggled to find words and stared blankly into the camera. 

Obama and Clooney grew closer after Obama left the presidency. And, in his last year in office, Obama discouraged Biden from running for president so Hillary Clinton would have a clearer path to the 2016 nomination. 

Clooney told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017 that he and Obama texted frequently. The actor said the two share teasing rifts and even a risque joke or two. 

Both men are keen basketball players and shot hops together when Obama stayed at Clooney's home in England.  

Obama is not the only senior Democrat working behind-the-scenes, as concerns continue to grow about whether Biden has the mental capacity to be president.

Obama seen giving Biden's arm a gentle tug and leading him off the stage after the president freezes during the applause at a fundraiser in Los Angeles in June

George Clooney meets with then-Vice President Joe Biden in 2009

President Joe Biden's performance in the first debate has Democrats worried they will lose the White House and both chambers in Congress in the November election

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi is doing some manuvering. 

Pelosi, on Wednesday, suggested Biden rethink his stance on staying the Democratic nominee.

'It's up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We're all encouraging him to make that decision. Because time is running short,' she said on Morning Joe.

Her comments were meant to serve as a greenlight to Democratic members, telling them to speak up about their concerns about Biden.

The fear is spreading among Democrats that not only Biden will lose in November, he'll take Democratic lawmakers down with him.

If Republicans win the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, Donald Trump would be unchecked in his presidential power.

And Pelosi went public because lawmakers are coming to her with their worries.

'That's why some of us are going to Pelosi ... she's a tough cookie, she'll tell you like it is,' a House Democrat told Axios.

At least 10 Democratic lawmakers have publicly called on Biden to exit the contest.