President Biden’s re-election campaign hosted a star-studded fundraiser in New York City with former presidents Clinton and Obama which raised over $26 million. The event, “An Evening with President Biden and Presidents Obama and Clinton,” took place at Radio City Music Hall and was attended by more than 5,000 donors, including grassroots supporters and top campaign donors and bundlers. However, the campaign declined to disclose the names of the financial supporters in attendance when asked by Fox News. President Trump, on the other hand, attended a wake for a New York Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty while the event with Biden, Obama, and Clinton took place.
During the fundraiser, Biden was joined by celebrities like Mindy Kaling, Queen Latifah, and Lizzo, as well as political figures like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Biden used the opportunity to discuss pressing issues like climate change and reproductive rights, while also making jokes about Trump. The contrasting events attended by Biden and Trump in New York were quickly highlighted on social media, with many criticizing Biden for prioritizing a high-profile fundraiser over attending a police officer’s funeral.
Republican commentators like Rep. Jim Banks and Sen. JD Vance criticized Biden for his choice to attend the fundraiser instead of the officer’s funeral, while praising Trump for showing his respects to the grieving family. The Republican National Committee also highlighted the differences between the two events, with many noting the stark contrast in priorities between the two presidents. While some Democratic strategists acknowledged that the optics of the competing events weren’t ideal for Biden, others dismissed the comparisons as attempts by Trump to distract from Biden’s successful fundraising efforts.
Despite the criticism, Biden’s campaign celebrated the record-breaking $26 million haul from the fundraiser. The campaign stood by its decision not to disclose the names of donors, citing their policy of not routinely making such information public. With the 2024 election season underway, both Biden and Trump are making strategic decisions regarding their public appearances and events. The contrasting events in New York highlighted the differing approaches taken by the two presidential contenders as they gear up for the upcoming campaign.
