The Biden campaign and its allies raised more than $30 million as part of a star-studded fundraiser, breaking the Democratic Party’s record for the largest fundraiser, the campaign announced.
President Joe Biden appeared at a Los Angeles fundraiser alongside former President Barack Obama, actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
“This Saturday we are going to see an unprecedented and record setting from the worlds of media and entertainment,” campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a statement. “The enthusiasm and commitment to Biden/Harris could not be stronger. We all understand that this is the most important election of our lifetime.
The fundraising money will be used “to open offices, hire organizers and launch paid media campaigns to communicate directly with voters,” a campaign official said.
The Biden campaign announced Saturday that the event raised $28 million, which they said broke fundraising records for the party. Funds continue to flow, bringing the final fundraising total to more than $30 million, a campaign official said Sunday.
NBC News reached out to the Democratic National Committee to ask if the event broke fundraising records. NBC News could not independently verify the claim because the fundraising numbers were not immediately reflected in Federal Election Commission data.
Figures from Saturday’s fundraising eclipse the total amount reportedly raised from a New York City fundraiser in March, which also featured a number of celebrities. That fundraiser topped $26 million, according to the Biden campaign, which it said was the largest Democratic fundraiser to date.
Like the New York fundraiser, the Los Angeles fundraiser featured a comedian-moderated conversation between the presidents. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the conversation between Biden and Obama. During a March fundraiser, Stephen Colbert had a conversation with Biden, Obama and former President Bill Clinton.
Saturday’s conversation with Kimmel, Biden and Obama touched on several policy issues — and, perhaps unsurprisingly, former President Donald Trump.
“We’ve made so much progress. He wants to get rid of it all,” Biden said, referring to Trump.
“Part of what’s happened over the last several years is that we’ve normalized disqualifying behavior,” Obama said, pointing to Trump’s conviction and other legal issues.
Biden said the winning presidential candidate this November would nominate two Supreme Court justices during his term, and Trump would “nominate two flying flags upside down,” referring to the controversy surrounding Justice Samuel Alito.
He continued, noting that the Supreme Court has “never been like today”.
Kimmel praised the Affordable Care Act during the conversation, pointing out his son’s heart condition. discussed earlier. Biden asserted that if Republicans dismantle the ACA, they will “significantly hurt the nation.”
During the conversation, Obama said, “I am proud of what the Biden administration has accomplished. “And it’s a reminder that we don’t have to vote against something in this election.”
Saturday’s fundraiser also featured performances by celebrities including Jack Black, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jason Bateman and Kathryn Hahn. Barbra Streisand introduced First Lady Jill Biden, praising her work on education and women’s health.
The first lady emphasized that elections are about character. He said voters had a choice between Biden and “someone who wakes up every morning caring about one person and one person only: himself.”
The The Biden campaign April ended, dominating the money race by more than $84 million compared to the most recent available FEC report. The Trump campaign‘s More than $49 million in the same period.
The Trump campaign said It, along with its allies, raised more than $34 million after his conviction last month. NBC News could not independently verify that claim because the May FEC filings are not yet available.
