Two of Joe Biden’s Democratic predecessors attended a Radio City Music Hall star-studded event on Thursday. Over $26 million was raised, per his campaign.
Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton joined about 5,000 supporters in New York. Protesters disrupted the three presidents’ speech.
Star-Studded Evening
Mindy Kaling hosted the event, which ended around 10 p.m. Stephen Colbert hosted a Biden-Clinton-Obama forum. Special guests include Lea Michele, Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and more.
During the almost hour-long moderated debate, Colbert joked that “three presidents have visited New York, but none of them to appear in court,” referring to former President Donald Trump’s criminal indictments and civil prosecutions. Clinton added that Trump “squandered a prosperous couple of years by appropriating them from Barack Obama.”
But protesters stopped the session at least five times. Colbert noticed one demonstrator and asked Biden about the US’s role in ensuring a successful and peaceful future for Palestine and Israel.
Biden said Gaza needed more aid but that Israel’s existence was at risk.
After being interrupted, Obama told a protester, “You cannot simply speak without listening.”
Obama added, “Such is the nature of democracy.” “Part of democracy consists of more than mere discourse.” The other side listens actively. We must appreciate that morality and steadfastness may coexist with an understanding that the world is complex and challenges are hard to resolve.
Audience members applauded.
After a January speech in which pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted him around a dozen times, Biden’s crew has reduced event capacity and delayed location reveal.
Over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters held Palestinian flags and anti-war banners outside the New York venue on Thursday, yelling “Biden, Biden, you’re a liar.”
Abandon Biden supported protests against the president’s presence due to the White House administration of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Anomalies noticed three presidents in Radio City Music Hall. Kaling joked earlier in the presentation that Biden, Obama, and Clinton will turn around when they hear “Mr. President.”
The minimum ticket price was $250 and the maximum donation was $500,000. Many of the most generous were slated to have Annie Leibovitz photograph them with all three presidents.
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First lady Jill Biden called it “the fundraiser to end all fundraisers.” New York Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also spoke.
The fundraiser at the end of a day of mobilization for the three presidents included an interview with the podcast “SmartLess,” whose release the White House did not specify.
Their conversation with Joe Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez was televised for grassroots donors. Besides re-election campaigns (both Clinton and Obama served two terms), the presidents discussed ice cream flavors.
They rode “The Beast”—the president’s motorcade vehicle—to Radio City Music Hall together.
An Obama aide told NBC News that Obama invited Biden to ride in The Beast with him after his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where they enjoyed catching up on personal and business affairs.
Trump faces pushback from within his government, including former Vice President Mike Pence, as he seeks to recapture the White House in November, unlike Biden, Clinton, and Obama.
George W. Bush was the only other Republican president to withdraw his support for Trump in 2020.
The Trump campaign hasn’t held a major event since March 16. Trump attended the Thursday tribute for a Queens police officer shot and killed on Monday.
In March, CNBC found that 46% of people favored Trump and 45% supported Biden, putting the two contenders neck and neck. Trump beat Biden 30-points in that poll when asked which candidate was better educated on economic matters.
Colbert asked Clinton what he would tell electors who distrust the economy on Thursday during the moderated discussion. Clinton said voters are still affected by the 2008 recession and Covid and that Trump failed to prolong Obama’s economic growth. Clinton said Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have “reassembled Humpty Dumpty.”
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