Joe Biden slams Supreme Court at $28-million fundraiser with Obama, Clooney, Julia Roberts
LOS ANGELES — President Joseph “Joe” R. Biden slammed the US Supreme Court as “out of kilter” at a glitzy fundraiser in Los Angeles on Saturday with former President Barack Obama and top Hollywood celebrities that has raised $28 million.
Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel began by showing a video montage contrasting Mr. Biden’s record with that of his predecessor and current Republican challenger Donald Trump. He drew cheers from the audience at a packed Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, where Hollywood celebrities George Clooney and Julia Roberts were among the guests.
Biden, a Democrat who has frequently denounced specific decisions but resisted a full-throated attack on the court itself, said on Saturday “the Supreme Court has never been as out of kilter as it is today.”
“The fact of the matter is that there has never been a court that is this far out of step,” Mr. Biden said. He noted that conservative Justice Clarence Thomas had said the court, which overturned the half-century-old federal right to abortion, should reconsider such things as in vitro fertilization and contraception.
Mr. Trump nominated three of the six conservatives who control the nine-member court. He and Mr. Biden are in a tight rematch race for the Nov. 5 election.
If Trump is elected again, Mr. Biden said, he “is likely to have two new Supreme Court nominees.”
“The idea that if he’s reelected he’s going to appoint two more who are flying flags upside down… I think it is one of the scariest parts,” Mr. Biden said.
He was referring to a recent controversy involving Justice Samuel Alito, who allowed flags associated with the movement to reverse Mr. Trump’s 2020 loss to Mr. Biden — including an upside-down American flag — to fly outside his homes in Virginia and New Jersey.
Democratic lawmakers, citing the flag displays, have said Alito should recuse himself from a case involving Trump’s claim of presidential immunity from prosecution on federal criminal charges relating to his efforts to overturn the 2020 results.
Since Mr. Biden took office, the court’s conservative majority has also restricted affirmative action, gay rights, gun control and environmental regulation. It has blocked the president’s agenda on immigration, student loans, vaccine mandates and climate change.
Mr. Obama said “the power of the Supreme Court is determined by elections. What we’re seeing now is a byproduct of 2016” when Mr. Trump was elected. “Hopefully we have learned our lesson. Because these elections matter.”
‘LARGEST DEMOCRATIC FUNDRAISER’
The Biden campaign hoped the star-studded event would display strength and momentum despite Mr. Biden’s low approval ratings and concerns about the age of the president, who is 81.
“This will be one of the biggest fundraisers we’ve had,” said Ajay Jain Bhutoria, deputy finance chair at the Democratic National Committee. A Biden campaign spokeswoman said “$28 million heading into President Biden’s LA fundraiser — and counting. This is the largest Democratic fundraiser in history.”
The Biden campaign outraised the $26 million a March fundraiser in New York City generated where comedian and TV host Stephen Colbert hosted Mr. Biden, Mr. Obama and former President Bill Clinton. The top-ticket package for the LA event costs $500,000, campaign officials said.
Other celebrities who took the stage at the Saturday event included Jack Black, Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
In recent weeks, Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame made a White House briefing room appearance to praise the president, Robert De Niro showed up in lower Manhattan for a press conference at the Biden campaign’s behest and Steven Spielberg has been helping the Biden campaign with storytelling.
Actor Michael Douglas held a fundraiser for the president and artists Queen Latifah, Lenny Kravitz, Lizzo, James Taylor, Christina Aguilera and Barbra Streisand have all performed to help Mr. Biden raise money.
Mr. Biden campaign’s fundraising in April lagged Mr. Trump’s for the first time, after the former president ramped up his joint operation with the Republican National Committee and headlined high-dollar fundraisers.
Democrats still maintained an overall cash advantage over Mr. Trump and the Biden campaign continues to have a considerably larger war chest.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump are tied in national polls with less than five months to go before the election, while Mr. Trump has the edge in the battleground states that will decide the election, recent polls show. On economic issues like inflation, Mr. Trump scores higher with voters overall than Mr. Biden.
Democrats have long counted on the liberal Los Angeles area as a rich source of financial backing. Republicans often decry Democrats nationwide as funded by Hollywood elites and California liberals.
But the state’s donors bankroll presidential campaigns on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump have both raised more in the state for their reelection bids than anywhere else, according to fundraising disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Mr. Biden raised $24 million through April 30 in California, and Mr. Trump $11.7 million, according to the Federal Election Commission.
The president was largely unable to host high-dollar Hollywood fundraisers for much of 2023 because of industry strikes. But since they were resolved, Mr. Biden has headlined several fundraisers in the state, including one in December where top tickets approached $1 million. — Reuters
The wine-tasting journey started in the Old World, with the guests’ glasses being filled with Prosecco, followed by some savory Chianti, an incredible wine that pairs perfectly with food. France was the next stop, with a glass of the vibrant Provence Rosé, a crowd-favorite, followed by the sweet and dessert-friendly Monbazillac. Guests also enjoyed New World wines such as the versatile Chardonnay and the full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.
Luggage from the same origins as the wines were also showcased to the guests, making them the perfect partners for culinary travel. Italian brand Piquadro highlighted its lightweight PQ Lite luggage, card case wallets and other leather goods with palpable Italian craftsmanship. To represent France, sophisticated and stylish travel essentials from Delsey Paris were also featured. For those seeking innovation and durability, Briggs & Riley from the United States was presented as the perfect travel companion.
One of the guests, Camille Gutierrez, shared that the experience gave her a deeper appreciation for wine. “This event was so informative and packed with learning,” she said.
This event is co-presented by Briggs & Riley, Delsey Paris, Piquadro, and Primer Group of Companies, in partnership with Elevaj Wine Experts.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Styling by Neve, Travel Blue, and Grazing Box MNL.
For all things travel, follow The Travel Club on social media: @thetravelclubph and @thetravelclubplus! For all your travel must-haves, visit 