Hollywood stars, Obama headline Biden fundraiser

Some of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars headlined a fundraising event for President Joe Biden on Saturday night, helping his re-election campaign raise some $28 million ahead of the November elections, which, they said, as one of the most important in history.

George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand were on stage at the 7,100-seat Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Renowned host Jimmy Kimmel interviewed Biden and former President Barack Obama, who emphasized the need to defeat former President Donald Trump in an election that will be very close.

During more than half an hour of discussion, Kimmel asked if the country was suffering from amnesia about the presumptive Republican nominee, to which Biden responded, “all we have to do is remember what it was like” when Trump was in the White House.

Luminaries from the entertainment world have increasingly lined up to help Biden’s campaign, and the importance of the event to his re-election bid was reflected in the Democratic president’s decision to cross nine time zones, from the G7 summit in southern Italy to southern Californiato be able to attend.

For the same reason, he was not at a summit in Switzerland to discuss how to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. In her place she sent Vice President Kamala Harris, who was rushed to represent the United States there, a stark reminder of the delicate balance between geopolitics and Biden’s bid to win a second term.

Riot police remained outside the theater, anticipating protests by pro-Palestinian activists angry at their administration’s handling of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

The event featured performances by Jack Black and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Actors Kathryn Hahn and Jason Bateman introduced Kimmel, who in turn introduced Biden and Obama.

“So many things are at stake in these elections,” said the presenter and listed women’s rights, health.

Kimmel asked the president what achievement he was most proud of, and Biden said he thought the administration’s focus on the economy “is working.”

“Today we have the strongest economy in the world,” Biden said, adding that “we try to give everyday people a fair shot.”

Trump spent Saturday campaigning in Detroit and criticized Biden’s handling of the economy and inflation. The president is fundraising “with elitist Hollywood celebrities who are indifferent to the needs of everyday people,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

But Biden told the crowd in California that “we passed every major piece of legislation we tried to make.” And Obama expressed his admiration for the sweeping legislation on health care, public works, the environment, technology manufacturing, gun safety and other major initiatives that his former vice president’s administration has overseen.

“What we’re seeing now is a byproduct of 2016. There were a lot of people who, for whatever reason, fell away,” said Obama, who, like Biden, wore a dark suit and white open-collared shirt.

Obama, referring to the Supreme Court, added that he hopes “we have learned our lesson, because this election is important in a very concrete way.”

Trump nominated three justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion. The audience expressed displeasure at the mention of Roe, to which Obama responded, “don’t boo, vote.” That was a common refrain from the former president, calling to prioritize voting over catcalls.

Biden said whoever is elected president in November could have the opportunity to nominate two new judges, although a second Biden term would likely not dramatically change a court that currently has a 6-3 conservative majority.

He also suggested that if Trump wins the White House again, “one of the scariest parts” would be the Supreme Court, claiming that the High Court “has never been so out of it.”

Biden also referenced reports that an upside-down flag, a symbol associated with Trump’s false claims of election fraud, was flown outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in January 2021. He was concerned that if Trump is re-elected, “he’s going to appoint two more to fly his flags upside down.”

Kimmel brought his special brand of humor to the event. At one point, he wondered how a president can stand up to a talk show host who mocks him on television every night.

“Have you ever heard of Delta Force?” Biden responded, referring to the Army’s special operations unit.

Early in the show, Kimmel noted Biden’s campaign promise to restore the soul of America, saying that “lately it feels like we might need an exorcism.” He then asked Biden: “Is that why you visited the Pope?” Biden and Pope Francis met in Italy on Friday.

Although Biden’s campaign said it was still tallying donations, Saturday night’s rally had taken in at least $28 million, more money than any other event for a Democratic candidate in history.

Add to that the president’s March fundraiser at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, where he raised $26 million and featured late-night host Stephen Colbert interviewing Biden, Obama and former President Bill Clinton.

Biden maintained an early lead in the campaign money race against Trump, but the former president has gained ground since the Republican nomination formally closed.

Trump surpassed Biden’s New York event by raising $50.5 million at an April meeting of major donors at the Florida home of billionaire investor John Paulson.

The former president’s campaign and the Republican National Committee announced they raised $141 million in May, adding to tens of millions of dollars in contributions that flowed in after Trump’s guilty verdict in his criminal trial.

That post-conviction surge came after Trump and the GOP announced raising $76 million in April, far surpassing Biden and Democrats’ $51 million for the month.

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