Joe Biden’s Los Angeles fundraiser brings in more than $15 million, says Jeffrey Katzenberg

Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wrapped up a fundraising weekend in Los Angeles on Sunday, raising a record amount.

More than $15 million was raised over the weekend, including for the Biden Victory Fund, said Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-chairman and founder of WndrCo. That’s the highest percentage of any president or presidential candidate for a single visit to Los Angeles, he said.

It also surpassed the amount Barack Obama raised in May 2012, when Obama hosted a fundraiser at George Clooney’s home, hosted by Katzenberg. This fundraiser raised nearly $15 million.

Over the weekend, Biden and the first lady headlined seven events, including private meetings with major donors and a Hollywood-focused fundraiser Friday night at the Holmby Hills home of James Costos, the former US ambassador to Spain, and designer Michael Smith . . The event was attended by co-chairs Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, Rob Reiner, Peter Chernin and Jim Gianopulos, as well as developer Rick Caruso and the Human Rights Campaign PAC.

“To do this a year before the election is truly extraordinary and shows the tremendous support and enthusiasm for the president’s re-election,” Katzenberg said.

Between fundraisers and private events, Biden also made a surprise visit to Norman Lear’s home, where his widow Lyn held a shiva for her late husband, who died last week at 101.

Katzenberg said that on Saturday, after the president attended a private event at his home, Biden said he had heard there would be a shiva for Lear and asked if it was OK to go. Biden said he would like to pay his respects.

“I said, ‘I’m sure they’ll be happy if you come over,'” Katzenberg said. “He really admired Norman so much.”

The President visited the house for about twenty minutes. The Lears have previously hosted fundraisers for Biden, and at Friday night’s event, Lear’s president said, “His characters painted a — a fuller picture of America, of our hopes and our needs, our fears, our resilience, and changed the way. and “We look at ourselves.”

Friday night’s event also included a large group of pro-Palestinian protesters held behind a security fence in a park in Holmby Hills, blowing whistles and chanting “ceasefire now.” Police officers had to escort some participants to the event, but others were unable to get through as protesters attempted to block vehicles.

The Los Angeles Police Department said that “at some point, as a result of the protesters’ actions, which included throwing objects at officers and passing vehicles, an unlawful assembly and evacuation order was issued.” The crowd slowly dispersed and there were no arrests, no force. was used and no officers were injured.”

However, the department also said there was later vandalism in the Westwood area by protesters marching away from the demonstration. “The graffiti will be removed today and crime reports will be completed,” the department said. The LAPD is investigating.

White House correspondents in the Arctic reported relatively little protest activity on Saturday. That evening, the Bidens hosted a fundraiser at the Pacific Palisades home of investors José Feliciano and Kwanza Jones.

On that occasion, the president warned that Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, would pose a threat to democracy, an indication of Biden’s focus in 2024.

“This man means what he says,” Biden said of Trump. “Listen to his words today. He says he is on the run not to serve the American people, but to seek “revenge” and “retribution.” I’m not like that; these are his words. He keeps saying it.”