President Biden LA fundraiser rolls on Saturday - Day 2
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden continue Los Angeles-area fundraising blitz, with solemn visit to Norman Lear's shiva, amid protests.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden spent Day Two of their Los Angeles-area fundraising blitz on Saturday, Dec. 9, attending a variety of meetings at private homes in posh neighborhoods.
One of the more solemn experiences of the day was when Biden attended a shiva at the residence of Lyn and Norman Lear in honor of the pioneering TV producer's death last week at the age of 101. Biden spoke at an evening gala, praising Lear for creating characters that painted a fuller picture of America and changed the way we look at ourselves.
Biden also attended a "campaign meeting" at a home on Burk Place in the Trousdale Estates portion of Beverly Hills around midday, according to the White House pool report.
The president is aiming to reach a fundraising target of roughly $67 million for the fourth quarter of the year, while the first lady is also campaigning for her husband and spoke at a fundraising event at NeueHouse Hollywood.
The couple attended at least six different meetings around the L.A. area, with more meetings expected Saturday afternoon and evening. Their appearances drew a throng of musicians, movie stars, and moguls.
However, the events were met with protests, with more than 1,000 demonstrators gathering to condemn U.S. funding of Israeli military strikes in Gaza. The LAPD reported acts of vandalism in the Westwood area, with graffiti being removed and crime reports taken.
Inside the gala, Biden touted his record and took a few swings at former President Donald Trump. He also joked about being the only thing standing between the audience and a performance by Lenny Kravitz.
The event was co-hosted by high-profile figures such as former L.A. mayoral candidate and entrepreneur Rick Caruso and former Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco.
Republican Party officials condemned Biden's fundraising swing, saying that he should be listening to the concerns of ordinary Californians suffering a violent crime epidemic, increased cost of living, and a record $68 billion deficit.
The president is set to depart L.A. early Sunday afternoon, bound for Washington, D.C.
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