President Joe Biden wasted no time in making a scathing remark about his opponent Donald Trump shortly after appearing at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles.
“I could have done nothing and done better than him,” said Biden, who was joined by former President Barack Obama in the conversation moderated by Jimmy Kimmel.
Kimmel introduced the two presidents with a video of Trump from 2020. In it, he predicted that if he were not elected, there would be no end to important holidays such as the Fourth of July and Christmas.
The ABC late-night host then went on to list a long list of Biden’s accomplishments.
The event, which was also attended by celebrities such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand, was touted as the Democrats’ biggest fundraiser ever. At least $28 million was raised, a total that could be even higher, according to a source close to the campaign. The total is higher than a similar high-profile event the campaign held in March at Radio City Music Hall in New York, which raised $26 million.
The Biden team has been promoting the star-studded event for weeks, offering supporters the chance to win a trip to visit and meet some of the program’s participants. “It’s amazing how many people come to an event when you send them 5,000 emails reminding them,” Kimmel joked.
Jill Biden, introduced by Streisand, also spoke, saying the First Lady was “the neighbor everyone wants, not the type who suddenly flies an American flag upside down.”
“Trump has told us time and time again why he wants the White House – to give himself absolute power,” the First Lady said.
Among the thousands who attended the event at the Peacock Theater were industry figures such as Damon Lindelof, Marta Kauffman, Bryan Lourd and Craig Gering of CAA, Kathy Griffin and Jim Gianopoulos, as well as politicians such as Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, as well as a group of lawmakers who participated in a photo opportunity with Biden and Obama. Also in the theater: Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon.
As expected, there was a heavy police presence and vocal pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Olympic Boulevard. Protesters had tried to block entrances at previous Biden fundraisers, including an event in Holmby Hills in December. The Radio City event was disrupted at times by protesters but went ahead as planned.
The Los Angeles event also featured Sista Strings (performing “Lift Every Voice”), The Silhouettes, Sheryl Lee Ralph (performing a rousing rendition of “God Bless America”), Jason Bateman and Kathryn Hahn. Jack Black wore a Stars and Stripes jumpsuit over a Dark Brandon T-shirt.