LOS ANGELES (AP) Some of Hollywood's brightest stars headlined a glitzy fundraiser for the president Joe Biden Saturday night, helping raise what his reelection campaign said would be $28 million and hoping to energize potential supporters for a November election that they said was among the most important in the nation's history.
George Clooney, Julia Robert and Barbra Streisand were among those who took the stage at the 7,100-seat Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Late night host Jimmy Kimmel interviewed Biden and former President Barack Obama, both of whom stressed the need to defeat the former president. Donald Trump in a race that promises to be extremely close.
During more than a half-hour of discussion, Kimmel asked whether the country was suffering from amnesia about the presumptive Republican nominee, to which Biden responded: “All we have to do is remember how it 'was' when Trump was in the White House.
Entertainment Lights have increasingly lined up to help Biden's campaignand the importance of the event for his re-election bid is reflected in the Democratic president's decision to fly across nine time zones at night, from the G7 summit in southern Italy to southern California, to to assist.
He also missed a summit in Switzerland on how to end Russia's war in Ukraine, sending instead Vice President Kamala Harris who herself made a whirlwind trip to represent the United States there, a stark reminder of the delicate balance between geopolitics and Biden's attempt to win a second term.
The fact that police in riot gear stood outside the theater, ready to confront protests from pro-Palestinian activists angry at his administration's handling of the matter, further laid bare the political implications. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.
The event featured singing from Jack Black and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and actors Kathryn Hahn and Jason Bateman introduced Kimmel, who introduced Biden and Obama. The comedian was unmoved, I was told I was introduced by Batman, not Bateman.
But he quickly turned to much more serious topics, saying that much was at stake in this election, listing women's rights, health care and noting that even the ballot was on the ballot, in reference to the Biden administration's calls to expand voting rights.
Kimmel asked the president what he was most proud of having accomplished, and Biden said he thought the administration's approach to the economy was working.
We have the strongest economy in the world today, Biden said, adding that we are trying to give ordinary people an equal opportunity.
Asset spent Saturday campaigning in Detroit and criticized Biden's handling of the economy and inflation. The president was raising money “from elitist Hollywood celebrities out of touch with reality,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
But Biden told the crowd in California that we had passed every major bill we had tried to pass. » And Obama expressed admiration for sweeping legislation on health care, public works, the environment, technology manufacturing, gun safety and other major initiatives that his former vice-president's administration -president supervised.
What we're seeing today is a byproduct of 2016. There were a whole bunch of people who, for one reason or another, didn't opt out,” said Obama, who, like Biden, wore a dark suit and a white shirt open at the collar.
Obama, speaking of the Supreme Court, added: “I hope we learned our lesson, because this election matters in a very real way.”
Trump appointed three judges who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, the historic decision guaranteeing the constitutional right to abortion. The audience expressed displeasure at the mention of Roe, to which Obama responded, “Don't whistle, vote.” It was a play on its common refrain, which prioritizes voting over booing.
Biden said whoever is elected president in November might get the chance to appoint two new justices, although a second Biden term would likely not dramatically change a court that currently features a 6-3 conservative majority.
He also suggested that if Trump won back the White House, one of the scariest elements would be the Supreme Court and that the High Court has never been more out of step.
Biden also referred to indicates that an upside down flaga symbol associated with assets false allegations of election fraud, was flown to the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in January 2021. He feared Saturday that if Trump were re-elected, he would nominate two more who would fly their flags upside down.
Kimmel brought his signature humor to the event. At one point he asked how could a president get revenge on a talk show host who made fun of him on television every night.
Have you ever heard of Delta Force? Biden responded, referring to the military's special operations unit.
Earlier in the show, Kimmel highlighted Biden's campaign promise to restore the soul of America and said recently that it looks like we might need an exorcism. Then he asked Biden: “Is this why you visited the pope?” Biden and Pope Francis met in Italy Friday.
Biden's campaign said it still counted, but Saturday night's rally brought in at least $28 million, more money than any event for a Democratic candidate in history.
This meant surpassing that of the president fundraiser in March at Radio City Music Hall in New York, which raised $26 million and featured late-night host Stephen Colbert interviewing Biden, Obama and former President Bill Clinton.
Biden held an early lead in the race for campaign cash against Trump, but the former president has gained ground since officially blocking the Republican nomination.
Asset preempted Biden's New York event raising $50.5 million at a major donor gathering in April at billionaire investor John Paulson's Florida home. The former presidents' campaign and the Republican National Committee announced they raised a whopping $141 million in May, supplemented by tens of millions of dollars in contributions made after Trump's victory. guilty verdict in his criminal trial for money.
This post-conviction bump came after Trump and the Republican Party announced it raised $76 million in April, far surpassing Biden and Democrats' $51 million for the month.
Weissert reported from Washington.
