James Hibberd
Hollywood’s top donors are increasingly recoiling from Joe Biden‘s re-election campaign in the wake of last week’s debate disaster. Some of the president’s most steadfast and deep-pocketed supporters have publicly declared they’re withdrawing support following the president’s fragile and faltering face-off against Donald Trump, which has since been followed by a steady drip of reports detailing how the White House (and, to some extent, the media itself) has long covered up the true extent of the president’s cognitive struggles.
A couple donors are even taking the position that they’re halting support to all Democratic candidates to boost pressure on Biden to drop out of the race. After all, it’s not just the presidency at stake in November but down-ballot races for the House and Senate. The drama is perhaps unlike any in modern political history, with longtime ride-or-die party loyalists giving the president of the United States a “get out or else” ultimatum just four months before a high-stakes general election.
Below are some of the key players who have reportedly and publicly renounced their support for the Biden campaign in the last week — plus some familiar celebrity supporters who have remained silent.
Reed Hastings The Netflix co-founder told The New York Times: “Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous.” Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, have reportedly donated more than $20 million to support the Democratic party over the last few years.
Barry Diller The media mogul seeking to take control of Paramount replied with a simple “no” when asked by Ankler whether he and his wife, Diane von Furstenberg, were still supporting Biden. Diller reportedly gave $100,000 to the president and the Democratic Party’s super PAC in 2023.
Abigail Disney The millionaire Disney heiress and activist told CNBC she’s halting all donations to the Democratic party until they replace Biden on the ticket: “Biden is a good man and has served his country admirably, but the stakes are far too high. If Biden does not step down, the Democrats will lose. Of that, I am absolutely certain. The consequences for the loss will be genuinely dire.”
Damon Lindelof The Lost and The Leftovers showrunner penned an essay for Deadline arguing that Democrats should halt all their financial support until Biden steps down. “I know what my eyes and my ears and my heart tell me. I’ve been asleep at the wheel and it’s time to wake the fuck up …I believe in Joe Biden. I believe in him so much that we wrote him a sizeable check as recently as two weeks ago. We had to considering his opponent … I propose a DEMbargo. No checks written. No ActBlue links clicked. For anyone. … Is it misguided to punish the entire team for the stubbornness of the pitcher? Maybe. But it’s also common sense that if he stays in, they will also lose. A rising tide lifts all boats. A falling Biden sinks them. … When they text you asking for cash, text back that you’re not giving them a penny and you won’t change your mind until there’s change at the top of the ticket.”
Ari Emanuel Perhaps most colorfully, the Endeavor CEO and prolific Democratic donor blasted Biden and Democrats at the Aspen Ideas Festival. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Emanuel groused, “[Biden] said he was going to run for one term, and he’s doing it to restore democracy. He then runs for a second term — that’s the first bit of malarkey, as he would say. He and his cohorts have told us that he’s [been] healthy for over a year … The lifeblood to a campaign is money, and maybe the only way this gets [solved] is if the money starts drying up … I talked to a bunch of big donors, and they’re moving all their money to Congress and the Senate.” Emanuel later added, “We’re in fuck city!”
And here are a few notables who have largely remained silent since the debate (at least publicly — there are plenty with strong opinions on this subject who are, presumably, keeping their remarks private for now):
Jeffrey Katzenberg The mogul has taken a very active role in Biden fundraising (recently hosting an event which reportedly raised $30 million) and over the last year has both publicly and privately assured people the president was mentally up to the task of another four years. He told the Financial Times last year, “The president has shown that he’s 80 years young and brings with him the wisdom and knowledge and experience that he has shown during the past two years. He is fit and engaged and has a high level of energy.” He’s also been quoted as pushing back on doubters by claiming Biden’s age was his “superpower.”
Steven Spielberg The beloved Oscar winner has taken an active role in Biden’s re-election campaign, having recently helped the president with his D-Day anniversary speech on the cliffs at Normandy. Spielberg has also been working with the Democratic National Committee to help plan August’s convention.
Jimmy Kimmel In addition to tirelessly mocking Trump as the host of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian and talk show host participated in a fundraiser for Biden last month where he moderated a conversation between the current president and Barack Obama. Kimmel’s show currently has guest hosts, but he has weighed in on political matters on X in the past. He has yet to weigh in about Biden since the debate.
George Clooney and Julia Roberts Both A-list stars have been long aligned with Democratic party politics and fundraising efforts, and both have been actively helping support the Biden campaign. Just last month, Clooney penned a fundraising email urging donations to the Biden campaign, calling the 2024 election “a battle for the soul of our nation.” Another big Democratic donor at the event, Barbra Streisand, has been very vocal, blasting Trump, the moderators and the Supreme Court after the debate, but has otherwise supported the White House’s perspective: “Biden had a bad night. Enough of the Democratic panic.”
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