President Biden and former President Barack Obama appeared on stage with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in Los Angeles on Saturday night, during a conversation that mocked former President Trump, touted the Democratic incumbent's policy record and urged voters to head to the polls in November.
“I could have done better than him without doing anything,” Biden said when asked about the Republican former president, whom Kimmel called “Orange Julius Caesar,” before touting the strength of the country's economy, low unemployment and other accomplishments. “We're trying to give regular people a chance. Just a chance.”
Obama added that Biden has pushed for policies that build on those in place when Obama was president and Biden was vice president, including expanding access to the Affordable Care Act and increasing funding for efforts to stop climate change.
“The presidency is like a relay race: You receive the baton, you run the race, and then you hand it off to your successor,” Obama said. “I'm very proud of what the Biden administration has accomplished, and this election reminds me that we don't have to just vote no. … But we can take pride in recognizing the great job Joe's done.”
The star-studded fundraiser at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles is expected to raise at least $28 million, the most money ever raised at a single-night event in the history of the Democratic Party.
Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts were among the headliners. Thousands of Biden supporters paid anything from $250 for seats away from the stage to $500,000 for ticket packages that included prime seating, photo opportunities with both presidents and a VIP afterparty to attend what is likely to be one of the president's last major Los Angeles fundraisers before the November election.
“This Saturday, we will see an unprecedented, record-breaking turnout from the media and entertainment industries,” said media mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, a Democratic megadonor and the only unelected official to serve as co-chair of the president's reelection campaign. “The enthusiasm and commitment to Biden-Harris couldn't be stronger. We all understand this is the most important election of our lifetimes.”
read more: 'This is not a fun election': Why a star-studded Hollywood fundraiser is so important to Biden
While much of the night's comedy was provided by celebrities like Kimmel, Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Jack Black and Barbra Streisand, the president and former presidents also cracked a few jokes.
“Remember the pandemic. [Trump] “He said, 'Don't worry, we'll just put a little bit of bleach in it,'” Biden said. “And it made his hair look better.”
Biden then got serious, noting that more than 1 million Americans have died from COVID-19.
“It's had a serious, negative impact on our economy. It's had a serious, negative impact on the attitude of the American people,” Biden said. “Ending the pandemic is one of the accomplishments we've achieved, and I'm very proud of it.”
Kimmel reflected on the toilet paper shortages during the first weeks of the pandemic.
“President Obama promised to make America great again, and the next thing you know, we're wiping ourselves with envelopes,” Kimmel said, to which Obama interjected with a laugh, “Is that how you handled it, Jimmy?”
Other officials and celebrities in attendance included Governor Gavin Newsom, Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), Congressman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-San Pedro), Congressman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk), and singer Paul Anka. Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon was also seen, but after he was included in a leaked audio recording along with other city council members making racist and derogatory comments, Biden called on de Leon to resign in October 2022.
The public entrance to LA Live was fenced off all afternoon, with well-dressed attendees and T-shirt-wearing tourists mingling on the sidewalks. Private security and LAPD officers stationed around the venue allowed patrons into restaurants surrounding the venue.
At about 5 p.m., several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Crypto.com Arena and the adjacent JW Marriott hotel, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as “Biden, Biden, can't you see, Palestine will be free.”
A group blocked the entrance to a fundraiser near the hotel and sat in front of the gate, while confused protesters approached, wondering how they were going to get in. They were allowed in through a gate near the arena, as protesters chanted “Shame on you!”
Protesters then closed the hotel's gates and then blocked the road outside the hotel.
Jennifer Jajeh, a Palestinian who lives in South Los Angeles, stood at the entrance to the fundraiser and confronted people as they entered.
“People on the ground in Gaza are experiencing fear every moment of their lives,” Jajeh said. “I think people who support candidates who support genocide should feel some discomfort. Kathy Griffin, you deserve two minutes of yelling.”
By 7 p.m., the crowds of protesters had begun to disperse. A Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said no arrests had been made.
The incident comes at a crucial time for Biden.
The Democrat is outraising Trump in California and nationally, but the former president's contributions have skyrocketed since he was convicted in late May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, who allegedly performed a sexual act on him during a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in an attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election.
Trump's first fundraiser since his conviction was in California this month.
read more: Trump raises millions in Newport Beach and Beverly Hills for post-conviction hearings
The fundraising in California comes at a tough time for both presumptive 2024 presidential candidates, who have a close race in national and battleground state polls. Some voters are older and more indifferent to Biden and Trump, but are also worried by domestic economic problems as well as global turmoil, including the protracted wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas.
Biden departed late Friday night from the G7 summit in Italy, where Western leaders gather to address global issues such as trade, the economy and security, and from private meetings with Pope Francis. After refueling at an air force base in Maryland, the president arrived in Los Angeles around dawn on Saturday.
It's unclear how Biden spent his time after landing, but his son Hunter, who was convicted this week on three firearms-related felony charges, lives in Malibu. In February, Biden spent about 90 minutes with his son and grandson at the Ivy restaurant for Hunter's 54th birthday.
Biden's son has yet to be convicted on a gun charge that will almost certainly be appealed, and he also faces nine federal tax charges in California.
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This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
