President Biden arrived Saturday night at a star-studded fundraiser in downtown Los Angeles that is expected to raise at least $28 million, the most money raised at a single-night event in Democratic Party history.
Headliners at the rally, held at LA Live's Peacock Theater, included former President Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts. 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 for what will likely be one of the president's final major LA 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.”
Biden, who arrived at the theater just before 5:30 p.m., was scheduled to pose for photos with VIPs before the main event, which is scheduled to begin around 6:30 p.m.
Among the elected officials and celebrities at or near the theater before the fundraiser began were Barbra Streisand, Governor Gavin Newsom, Congressmen Ted Lieu, Robert Garcia, Nanette Díaz Barragán, and Grace F. Napolitano, singers Paul Anka and Katzenberg. Also seen was Los Angeles City Council Member Kevin de Leon, who, along with other City Council members, was included in leaked audio making racist and derogatory comments that President Biden urged him to resign in October 2022.
The event drew hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters, who gathered outside Crypto.com Arena at the LA Live complex, with some gathering outside the arena at around 5 p.m., chanting “Biden, Biden, you're a liar. We demand a ceasefire.”
At about 5:30 p.m., protesters blocked the entrance to the event venue near the JW Marriott Hotel and sat in front of the gate, while confused attendees approached, wondering how they were going to get in. Attendees 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.
Police clad in all black and wearing riot helmets ran past reporters outside the theater toward a row of fences.
The event comes at a crucial time for Biden, who is competing with former President Trump for the White House in the general election.
Trump, a Democrat, has outraised Republicans in California and nationwide, but his donations have skyrocketed since he was convicted in late May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, the adult film actor who allegedly engaged in sexual favours during a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in an attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election.
The former president's first fundraiser since his conviction took place in California this month.
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.
