Miami Herald

Biden looks to Hollywood for 2024 fundraisin­g boost

Joe Biden is banking on Hollywood’s A-list to help propel him to victory in November, but their star power has yielded a mixed bag for the embattled president.

Big-name actors and musicians, including Robert De Niro and Barbara Streisand, have encouraged donors to back Biden’s reelection effort, but there’s little evidence they’ve energized their fans to come out in support of him. Meanwhile, a cadre of younger stars has yet to publicly back Biden in his race against Republican Donald Trump.

Biden sought to capitalize on celebrity support Saturday at a high-dollar fundraiser at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, joined by the stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts, as well as former President Barack Obama. Roberts, Clooney and other stars, including the “White Lotus” actress Connie Britton, sent texts to supporters soliciting donations ahead of the event.

The night was set to raise $28 million, according to the Biden campaign.

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel warmed up the audience with jabs at Trump, mocking him as an “orange Julius Caesar” before moderating a discussion with Biden and Obama. Asked by the late-night host how they would appeal to Republican voters frustrated by their presumptiv­e nominee but wary of backing a Democrat, Obama cited Trump’s recent conviction for falsifying business records — a verdict that made the Republican the

first former U.S. president found guilty of a felony.

“Part of what has happened over the last several years is we’ve normalized behavior that used to be disqualify­ing,” Obama said. “The nominee of one of the two major parties, sitting in court and being convicted by a jury of his peers on 34 counts.”

Saturday’s event was a star-studded affair, which also saw the actors Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn and Jack Black participat­e.

All recent Democratic presidents have sought to transform the loyal fan bases and name recognitio­n of the Hollywood elite into support. But Biden’s team has strugPresi­dent

gled to make the endorsemen­ts stick this year, especially among young people displeased with his handling of the IsraelHama­s war and other issues. The toxic nature of the political debate may also be keeping celebritie­s on the sidelines.