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George Clooney held fundraisers for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton
On Monday, the Ocean's Eleven actor listed the US' string of good luck with great presidents, naming everyone from George Washington to John F Kennedy
He commented on Trump, saying: 'I think we're going to be a little unlucky now'
Clooney maintained an optimistic outlook and said he would hope for the best
He also backed Streep's speech on Sunday, saying: 'I support her right forever'

Published: 18:34 EST, 9 January 2017 | Updated: 10:57 EST, 10 January 2017

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George Clooney said America has gotten 'unlucky' with Donald Trump, but maintained his optimism by saying: 'We have to hope that he can do a decent job.'

The Ocean's Eleven actor compared Trump to great American presidents from George Washington to John F Kennedy during a reception in London for the new documentary 'The White Helmets'.

Clooney, who hosted fundraisers for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during the presidential campaign, also defended Meryl Streep's impassioned Golden Globes speech criticizing the president-elect.

'We have to hope that [Trump] can do a decent job, because when the president of the United States fails, really terrible things happen,' Clooney said Monday

'We have to hope that he can do a decent job, because when the president of the United States fails, really terrible things happen,' Clooney said Monday.

Clooney said the United States has generally been lucky in its presidents - until now.

'When we needed a first president, we had George Washington,' he said. 'We had Jefferson, Adams.

'When we had the Civil War, we had Lincoln,' he added, rattling off other office-holders — Roosevelt, Kennedy — before suggesting that the U.S. 'got a little unlucky' with the George W. Bush presidency in the years after 9/11.

'I think we're going to be a little unlucky now,' Clooney said. 'I can only hope for the best.'

The actor also defended fellow star Meryl Streep after she took aim at the president-elect in a speech at Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards.

During her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award, Streep criticized Trump for mocking disabled New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski.

In reply, Trump tweeted that Streep was 'overrated' and a 'flunky' of Clinton.

The actor also defended fellow star Meryl Streep (above) after she took aim at the president-elect in a speech at Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards

During her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award, Streep criticized Trump (left) for mocking disabled New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski (right)

On Monday, Clooney backed the legendary actress's right to speak out said: 'I support her right forever'.

Clooney's production company is working on a feature-film version of the Syrian Civil Defense search-and-rescue teams, known as the 'White Helmets', who have rescued people from bombed-out buildings in Aleppo.

He and his lawyer wife, Amal Clooney, have given their support to the Netflix-backed documentary, which is on the 10-strong Academy Awards shortlist for best documentary short.

Clooney said that as a celebrity, 'I can't change policy ... but I can make things louder.

'The White Helmets are the heroes. So if I can help them out at all, and people can know about it, in any way possible, that's a good use of celebrity, I think.'