Hollywood donors blasted as they urge Biden to exit 2024 race while slamming family's supportive stance
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hollywood donors were outspoken in urging President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, leveling sharp criticism at the 81-year-old incumbent, his son, and the First Lady.
They targeted Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, and his wife Dr Jill Biden, both of whom expressed their support for the POTUS staying in the race for his reelection.
The donors also alleged that the Commander-in-Chief is prioritizing his ego over the country's best interests, as per the Daily Beast.
“He’s running against a felon and now he’s suddenly taking advice from his son who is a convicted felon?" questioned Peter Benedek, a prominent figure in Hollywood and co-founder of United Talent Agency, in an email to the aforementioned outlet. “It’s time to go. He’s sullying his profound legacy.”
Benedek's comments were echoed by Hollywood mega-agent Ari Emanuel, who represents clients such as Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey. Both argued that the POTUS is now harming his own reputation and legacy.
Their frank comments followed a high-profile fundraiser in Hollywood that generated $30 million for the Biden presidential campaign.
What did Hollywood executives say regarding Joe Biden staying in the race?
Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor and TKO Group Holdings, whose brother, Rahm Emanuel, is currently serving as the US ambassador to Japan in the Biden administration, argued on Monday that Biden has transformed into a version of his predecessor.
“The idea that Mr. Biden ‘alone can fix it’ is a self-aggrandising delusion on a Trumpian scale. No wonder the audience at the president's post-debate rally sounded just like a MAGA crowd from 2016,” Emanuel stated in an article published in The Economist, mentioning that some of the audience members even chanted "Lock him up!"
“Mr. Biden's advisers are just as deluded if they think they can tell Americans they didn't see what they saw on that debate stage,” Emanual remarked. "'One bad night' or 'the effects of a cold' is spin that would make even Mr. Trump's flacks blush.”
Emanuel, who formerly represented Trump, highlighted that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre initially denied that the President had seen a doctor after the debate.
However, President Biden later acknowledged during a meeting with Democratic governors that he had indeed seen a doctor.
"Just as Mr. Trump's White House frequently lied about his medical treatments, from routine colonoscopies to when he nearly died from Covid," the Hollywood super-agent claimed.
Filmmaker and Democratic donor Rob Reiner also joined in on the pushback against the Democrat statesman by Hollywood elites.
It’s time to stop fucking around. If the Convicted Felon wins, we lose our Democracy. Joe Biden has effectively served US with honor, decency, and dignity. It’s time for Joe Biden to step down.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) July 7, 2024
On Sunday, Reiner posted on X, “It’s time to stop f**king around. If the Convicted Felon wins, we lose our Democracy. Joe Biden has effectively served the US with honor, decency, and dignity. It’s time for Joe Biden to step down.”
However, the following day, Reiner seemed to waver. "If we see the Joe Biden that appeared on Morning Joe today every day until Nov. 5, he’ll be able to silence critics like me who think he should step aside," he tweeted.
If we see the Joe Biden that appeared on Morning Joe today every day until Nov.5, he’ll be able to shut up people like me who think he should step aside.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) July 8, 2024
Emanuel is not wavering but rather initiating a no-holds-barred attack on the Biden family, likening them to the Trumps. In The Economist, the Endeavor CEO criticized Jill Biden for praising her husband's disastrous debate performance as if he were a school child.
"When Jill Biden told her husband after the debate, 'Joe, you did such a great job! You answered every question! You knew all the facts!,' and the next day defiantly wore a dress plastered with the word 'VOTE,' I couldn't help but think of Melania Trump wearing a coat that said 'I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?' after touring a detention center for child migrants," he wrote.
Benedek, Reiner, and Emanuel are not classified as primary donors to the Democratic Party. However, Reiner alone has contributed at least $55,800 to Democrats in the past decade, while Benedek has donated nearly $40,000, alongside substantial sums directed through his United Talent Agency PAC.
All three play pivotal roles within an exclusive circle of Hollywood fundraisers and bundlers, wielding considerable influence.
The Hollywood magnate followed the example of his brother, Ezekiel Emanuel, a physician, who wrote in an article for The Atlantic last week that President Biden, displaying a "striking deficit of fluid intelligence" during his televised debate against Trump, should withdraw from the 2024 race.
Ari Emanuel pointed to several verbal blunders and slip-ups as his reasons, including Biden's remark during a July 4 radio show where he referred to himself as the "first Black woman to serve with a Black President."
Emanuel argued that the Joe Biden seen on the debate stage is inadequate to defeat Mr Trump or to govern for another four years. He also cautioned against the significant risks of placing Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket.
Instead, he foresees a winning ticket of Democratic swing-state governors like Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, which he said “would electrify the country and put Democrats well on their way to securing a strong majority in the electoral college.”
And if that plan fails? Then perhaps Whitmer and Wes Moore, the young, dynamic governor of Maryland, "should jointly declare their candidacies," he suggested.
"We're not MAGA Republicans. The Democratic Party is not a mindless cult of personality," Emanuel emphasized. "We are patriots who put the country first. Let’s show it."
Internet blasts Hollywood donors of Democrat Party amid growing calls for Biden's withdrawal from 2024 race
One X user remarked, "Two Hollywood idiots !"
Another user quipped, "*Two Hollywood heavyweights that nobody has heard of."
Another user wrote, "Yeah Ari Emanuel. His brother Rahm did such a good job as mayor of Chicago that he didn't run for reelection because he knew he would get his a*s kicked and he got chased all the way to Japan. F**k the Emanuels they don't speak for us."
Yeah Ari Emanuel. His brother Rahm did such a good job as mayor of Chicago that he didn't run for reelection because he knew he would get his ass kicked and he got chased all the way to Japan. Fuck the Emanuels they don't speak for us.
— George (@George61087288) July 9, 2024
One user said, "Ari is Musk BFF." [sic]
Another X user suggested, "Harris-Whitmer delivers a landslide win. Biden loses BOTH the House and Senate. Trump’s issues no longer matter. ALL about Biden’s age. Obama needs to deliver the tap on the shoulder!"
Harris-Whitmer delivers a landslide win. Biden loses BOTH the House and Senate. Trump’s issues no longer matter. ALL about Biden’s age. Obama needs to deliver the tap on the shoulder!
— Politics of Brian (@PoliticsOfBrian) July 9, 2024
Finally, this user tweeted, "Two Words to Benedek and Emanuel and they are not thank you!!!! Support or move on. ..we are voting to keep trump out of office and if you’re not with us you are the problem. Trump is a dictator." [sic]
Two Words to Benedek and Emanuel and they are not thank you!!!! Support or move on. ..we are voting to keep trump out of office and if you’re not with us you are the problem. Trump is a dictator. pic.twitter.com/pWhdU5f4tg
— Carla C. Black (@CarlaCblack) July 9, 2024
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.