Hollywood’s Democratic donors turn away from Biden

Hollywood has always been a cash cow for the Democratic Party.

But unease over US President Joe Biden’s candidacy have not subsided – despite a lengthy news conference on Thursday where he made clear he had no intention of standing aside despite mounting pressure from within his own party.

The concerns over his age have some faithful A-list donors in one of the most liberal corners of the US turning their back on Mr Biden, with several publicly withdrawing their support and calling for him to be replaced.

Even before George Clooney, a prominent Democratic fundraiser, authored a damaging opinion piece calling for Mr Biden to step aside as the party’s candidate, novelist and screenwriter Ayelet Waldman stopped donating to liberal candidates up and down the ballot in protest.

“I’ve always donated. I’ve always donated more than I can afford,” she told the BBC. “But this is the first time I have ever decided to stop donating up and down the ballot as a means of indicating my – I think displeasure isn’t the right word – absolute, gut-curdling panic.”

Ms Waldman was inspired by the screenwriter Damon Lindelof who on 3 July wrote a guest column in the industry publication Deadline, external, urging Democrats to “stop giving money” to all candidates until President Biden steps away from the race.

“Is it misguided to punish the entire team for the stubbornness of the pitcher? Maybe,” Mr Lindelof wrote. “But it’s also common sense that if he stays in, they will also lose. A rising tide lifts all boats. A falling Biden sinks them.”

Social media has been full of similar sentiments from the likes of Abigail Disney, John Cusack, Stephen King, Rob Reiner and more.

The chorus of film industry surrogates signals a worsening situation for the president, who is also facing pressure from a growing number of Democratic lawmakers who say he should drop out of the race. Hollywood’s A-listers are dismissed as “elites” by some Republicans, but they are reliable Democratic donors who offer influence in reaching voters across demographics and ages.

“My friend George Clooney has clearly expressed what many of us have been saying,” Reiner, an actor, filmmaker and prominent liberal, wrote on X. “Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside.”