5 Major Hollywood Donors No Longer Supporting Biden (& 5 Who Stay Silent)

Major Hollywood donors are increasingly turning away from Joe Biden’s reelection campaign after last week’s debate disaster. Some of the president’s most loyal and wealthy supporters have publicly said they are withdrawing their support after the president’s shaky, tentative showdown with Donald Trump, which has since been followed by a steady stream 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 difficulties.

Some donors have even decided to stop their support all Democratic candidates want to increase pressure on Biden to drop out of the race. After all, it’s not just the presidency that’s at stake in November, but also the House and Senate races. This drama is perhaps unprecedented in modern political history, with longtime party supporters issuing an ultimatum to the president of the United States: “Get out or else!” just four months before a high-stakes general election.

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Below are some of the major players who have reportedly publicly renounced their support for the Biden campaign in the past week, as well as some famous supporters who have remained silent.

Roseau Hastings Netflix co-founder said The New York Times:”Biden must step aside to allow a strong Democratic leader to defeat Trump and make us safe and prosperous.” Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, have reportedly donated more than $20 million to support the Democratic Party in recent years.

Barry Diller The media mogul seeking control of Paramount responded with a simple “no” when Ankler asked if he and his wife, Diane von Furstenberg, still supported Biden. Diller reportedly donated $100,000 to the president and the Democratic Party’s super PAC in 2023.

Abigail Disney The Disney millionaire heiress and activist told CNBC she was suspending all donations to the Democratic Party until Biden replaces 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 resign, the Democrats will lose. Of that, I am absolutely certain. The consequences of that defeat will be truly disastrous.”

Damon Lindelof THE Lost And Leftovers The showrunner wrote an essay for Deadline Democrats should stop all financial support until Biden steps down. “I know what my eyes, ears and heart are telling me. I fell asleep at the wheel and it’s time to wake up… I believe in Joe Biden. I believe in him so much that we wrote him a substantial check just two weeks ago. We had to do it given his opponent… I propose a DEMbargo. No checks have been written. No ActBlue links have been clicked. For anyone. … Is it unwise to punish the entire team for the pitcher’s stubbornness? Maybe. But it’s also common sense that if he stays, they will.” Also “Lose. A rising tide lifts all boats. A falling Biden sinks them. … When they text you for money, say you’re not giving them a dime and you won’t change your mind until there’s change at the top of the ticket.”

Ari Emmanuel Perhaps most striking was how the Endeavor CEO and prolific Democratic Party donor lambasted Biden and Democrats at the Aspen Ideas Festival. As reported by The Hollywood ReporterEmanuel ranted: “(Biden) said he was going to run for one term, and he’s doing it to restore democracy. Then he runs for a second term — that’s the first stupidity, as he would say. He and his cronies have told us he’s been healthy for over a year… Money is the lifeblood of a campaign, and maybe the only way to solve this problem is for the money to start drying up… I talked to a bunch of big donors, and they’re moving all their money to the Congress and the Senate.” Emanuel later added: “We’re in deep shit!”

And here are some figures who have remained largely silent since the debate (at least publicly – there are many who have strong opinions on this topic and are presumably keeping their remarks private for now):

Jeffrey Katzenberg The mogul has played a very active role in Biden’s fundraising (he recently hosted an event that reportedly raised $30 million) and, over the past year, has publicly and privately assured that the president is mentally up to the task for another four years. He told the The Financial Times Last year, “the president showed that he is 80 years old and brings with him the wisdom, knowledge and experience that he has demonstrated over the last two years. He is fit, engaged and has a high level of energy.” He was also quoted as having rebuffed skeptics by claiming that Biden’s age was his “superpower.”

Steven Spielberg The Oscar-winning actor has played an active role in Biden’s reelection campaign, most recently helping the president deliver his speech on the cliffs of Normandy on the anniversary of D-Day. Spielberg also worked with the Democratic National Committee to help plan the August convention.

Jimmy Kimmel In addition to relentlessly mocking Trump as host of the ABC show Jimmy Kimmel Live!The comedian and talk show host appeared at a fundraiser for Biden last month, where he moderated a conversation between the current president and Barack Obama. Kimmel’s show currently has guests, but he has weighed in on political issues on X in the past. He has yet to weigh in on Biden since the debate.

George Clooney and Julia Roberts The two A-list stars have long been aligned with Democratic Party politics and fundraising efforts, and both have been active supporters of the Biden campaign. Last month, Clooney penned a fundraising email calling for donations to the Biden campaign, calling the 2024 election “a battle for the soul of our nation.” Another major Democratic donor at the event, Barbra Streisand, was vocal, lambasting Trump, the moderators and the Supreme Court after the debate, but made little of the Biden campaign. otherwise supported The White House’s take: “Biden had a bad night. Enough Democratic panic.”

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