President Joe Biden raised $25 million for his campaign in a record-setting political fundraiser on Thursday night in New York.
Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were in attendance.
Biden’s campaign touted the Radio City Music Hall fundraising event total as the largest in political history. The staggering total comes as the president trails his opponent, former President Donald Trump, in RealClearPolitics polling and has an approval rating of just under 40%.
“This historic raise is a show of strong enthusiasm for President Biden and Vice President Harris and a testament to the unprecedented fundraising machine we’ve built,” Biden campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg said, reported the Associated Press. “Unlike our opponent, every dollar we’re raising is going to reach the voters who will decide this election — communicating the president’s historic record, his vision for the future, and laying plain the stakes of this election.”
The event featured a panel that included Biden, Obama, and Clinton, which was moderated by comedian and talk-show host Stephen Colbert. Musical performances included Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Lea Michele.
Attendees had the opportunity to have their photos taken with the three Democratic presidents for the price of $100,000. A $200,000 donation allowed them access to a reception. A $500,000 donation gave them even more exclusive access. First Lady Jill Biden and DJ D-Nice hosted an afterparty with 500 guests in attendance.
Biden has significantly outpaced Trump in fundraising, with $155 million cash on hand compared to Trump’s $37 million with his Save America political action committee. The $25 million raised at the Thursday event outpaced Trump’s February total by $5 million.
Trump was also in New York on Thursday to attend the funeral of New York Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller. X users noted the contrast between Trump’s visit and the president’s swanky event.
“There is no better comparison between Trump and Biden than THIS RIGHT HERE,” one user tweeted, with a photo of side-by-side headlines from the Daily News — one reading, “Biden set for star-studded Radio City fundraiser with Bill Clinton and Barack Obama,” and the other reading, “Trump to attend [wake] for slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller.”
