President Biden participated in a fundraiser for his 2024 re-election bid at Radio City Music Hall, along with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The event was moderated by comedian Steven Colbert and aimed to bolster Biden’s campaign funds, raising more than $25 million. More than 5,000 people attended the event, including members of the Biden family, with ticket prices ranging from $250 to $500,000. The most generous donors had the opportunity to have a photo taken with the three presidents and attend separate receptions with Biden, Obama, and Clinton.
The fundraiser also featured musical performances by Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Lea Michele, with comedian and actress Mindy Kaling hosting a portion of the event. Organized by Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the event was hailed as a significant show of force and momentum for the Biden-Harris ticket. Former President Donald Trump, who was also in New York attending a wake for a slain NYPD officer, used the fundraiser as an opportunity to raise funds for his own campaign, targeting Hollywood liberals and emphasizing grassroots support.
Despite recent polls showing Trump leading the 2024 race, Biden maintains a significant financial advantage over his predecessor. The Biden campaign reported having $155 million in cash on hand and raising $53 million in a nationwide fundraising push. In contrast, Trump’s campaign has a $36.6 million stockpile, highlighting the contrast in resources between the two candidates. Trump’s campaign fundraising emails referenced the Biden-Obama-Clinton fundraiser and urged supporters to contribute to counteract the funding from Hollywood elites, emphasizing that his campaign is powered by grassroots support rather than high-dollar donations. The fundraising event at Radio City Music Hall was a lavish affair with notable performances and celebrity guests, helping to showcase support for the incumbent president’s re-election bid.
