Say it ain’t Joe. Over the past three-and-a-half weeks, Hollywood’s political donor class has been calling publicly and privately for President Joe Biden to step down from the top of the 2024 Democratic ticket. With his bombshell decision on Sunday, the town’s most active check-writers have their wish.
But the sense of elation quickly gave way to a gnawing feeling that the Biden exit dragged on too long. “There is relief and gratitude. But neither one of those mitigates the panic that this is all too late to stop an ascendant authoritarian,” says one executive involved in the industry’s efforts to keep a Democrat in the White House.
Some wanted Biden to step aside even before his disastrous debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump on June 27, and they’re blaming Jeffrey Katzenberg for the unprecedented situation the Democrats find themselves in. They insist that the Biden campaign co-chair — who spearheaded a June 15 gala at L.A.
’s Peacock Theater with former President Barack Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts that raised $30 million — minimized the president’s cognitive deficits while canvassing for money. Even after the debate, which raised serious questions about Biden’s fitness to run, Katzenberg stayed the course. Two major donors say the DreamWorks co-founder appeared unable to grasp the severity of the moment and responded to their concerns via text with emojis, in a move that was seen as tone-deaf.
(Katzenberg did not respond to a re.