George Clooney takes Lebanese ‘date’ to Obama

Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney may insist she’s just a friend, but recent sightings of him with Lebanese lawyer Amal Alamuddin has set alarm bells ringing.

The 52-year-old Oscar winner took Alamuddin, the barrister for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, to the White House for a private meeting with Barack Obama earlier this week, British newspaper The Mirror reported on Wednesday.

Clooney had flown the lawyer, who is British and is of Lebanese origin, to Washington for a screening of his latest movie Monuments Men last week, the newspaper reported.

“Their appearance sparked controversy in America after Assange made no secret of his anger towards the States during in his extradition proceedings with Sweden,” The Mirror stated.

While it is yet unknown if Alamuddin actually spoke to Obama, Clooney was pictured standing by the president.

“Shortly after the appearance at the White House eight days ago (eight days on Weds) the couple were photographed standing intimately together at the Round Robin and Scotch Bar at the Willard Hotel in Washington,” the newspaper added.

“They looked very much together. George was very affectionate around Amal and they looked like a couple,” a source told the paper.

Sources at the White House say the presence of Assange's lawyer in the White House, will have caused tensions.

In October, Clooney himself denied rumors of the potential romance after they were spotted together in London.

“Three different stories in three weeks. I should be an athlete. But, no of course, it’s all made up,” the “Gravity” actor told U.S.-based People magazine.

Alamuddin is currently representing Assange in his extradition case against Sweden.

Ironically, Clooney’s name appears in a 2010 diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks. The actors name was part of a list citing others stars, TV shows and films that are more effective at preventing jihad than the U.S. government funded television station Alhurra, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Clooney’s 2007 film “Michael Clayton” was specifically highlighted.