Some trusted major Democratic donors in Hollywood are looking to replace their primary champion in the upcoming American elections, signaling an expansion of calls for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race in favor of a more capable alternative to confront Donald Trump. Co-founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings, has called on President Biden to step down. Prominent Hollywood producer Ari Emanuel stated that his phone has been ringing from donors planning to redirect funds away from President Biden towards congressional elections. Damon Lindelof, a well-known television writer, mentioned that his Democratic donor acquaintances should halt donations until Biden is replaced, according to the Wall Street Journal, as reported by Al Khaleej.
Hollywood has long been a reliable source of money and influence for Democratic candidates. Bill Clinton has spoken at dinners there and Barack Obama launched his fledgling campaign with support from Steven Spielberg, while Hillary Clinton brought Katy Perry to the Democratic National Convention. In June, Biden continued this trend with a major fundraising campaign co-organized by George Clooney and Julia Roberts, and he and his VP Kamala Harris, who resides in the upscale Brentwood area of the city, viewed the industry as a dependable ATM.
Many prominent Democrats in Los Angeles noted this week that Biden was not well-known in the city prior to his presidency, compared to other candidates who make regular visits to the entertainment business circle. They remarked that Biden had occupied a safe Senate seat in Delaware for most of his career, allowing him to avoid the fundraising schedule that his colleagues had to adhere to.
Before the first presidential debate, some Hollywood donors specifically complained about how the president has engaged with them during his first term. Some noted that he and Harris seemed to spend less time maintaining relationships with major donors in Los Angeles once they arrived at the White House. One said that neither had seemingly called major donors on their birthdays as past presidents and vice presidents had, a small gesture they claim can go a long way toward maintaining support.
In a strong indication of the beginning of a rift between Biden and Hollywood, Hastings, who has donated millions to support Democratic candidates in recent years, asserted that Biden "needs to step down to allow a strong Democratic leader to defeat Trump and maintain our safety and prosperity." Following the debate, Ari Emanuel expressed that he received calls from "a group of other major donors" questioning whether Biden is the best recipient of their support, as he mentioned at the Aspen Ideas Festival last Friday.
Emanuel has ties with several White House administrations, and his brother, Rahm Emanuel, served as White House Chief of Staff during Obama’s term and is currently the U.S. ambassador to Japan. Emanuel likened President Biden and his opponent Trump to his father, who he said had his car keys taken away at 81. In response to whether he would want Biden or Trump leading at night, he added, "If the answer is neither, you can't have them run a $27 trillion company called the United States." But most of his anger was directed at Biden, whom he said had reneged on his promise to hand over the Democratic Party to a new generation of leadership.
He affirmed, "That’s what Biden did... He said he would run for one term to restore democracy, but now he is running for a second term," referencing Politico's reports from 2019 about Biden indicating to his aides that he might serve one term and not seek reelection.
Despite the significant momentum generated by Emanuel's remarks after the debate, many donors in Hollywood remained silent, avoiding public statements about their frustrations with Biden’s campaign. One of those who stayed publicly quiet was Jeffrey Katzenberg, a long-time powerful producer in Hollywood and a participant in Biden's campaign.
Katzenberg, a former Disney executive and an honorary figure in Hollywood, was active in deepening support for Obama early in his challenge against Hillary Clinton in 2008. For Biden, he was a tireless fundraiser and supporter. Earlier this year, he campaigned in Iowa and praised the president at countless meetings across the city. In 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that Katzenberg urged Biden to accept his age.
Meanwhile, television writer Lindelof, who contributed generous donations to Democrats, including a "big check" for Biden's campaign two weeks prior, stated, "It is time for donors to hold back their money... When a government does not act in the way we want, we impose severe economic sanctions. It’s a give-and-take process... short-term harm for long-term healing." He urged fellow donors to respond to cash requests with a refusal to give "a single cent" until Biden steps down. He explains, "Some will say it’s too late. No team has ever come back from a four-goal deficit in the ninth inning... And I say to them, have you ever watched a sports movie?"