Biden Arrives In LA To Fundraise With Clooney, Roberts, Obama

LOS ANGELES, CA — President Joe Biden returned to Los Angeles Saturday for the most star-studded fundraiser of the 2024 campaign. The Downtown Los Angeles event Saturday will feature George Clooney, Julia Roberts and former President Barack Obama.

The event is likely to impact traffic around from the Westside to Downtown as the presidential motorcade shuts down freeways. Air Force One touched down at LAX at 5:04 a.m. Saturday, according to a White House pool report. Biden exited the plane at 5:32 a.m. with his daughter Ashley Biden.

The White House has released few details about the president's schedule between his departure from the G7 summit and his Saturday fundraiser at the at the Peacock Theater. Both the First Lady and Biden's son Hunter Biden will also be in town over the weekend.

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Tickets range in cost from $250 to as high as $500,000 for front-of-house seating, photo ops and an after-party.

Late-night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel is expected to take part, moderating a discussion between Biden and Obama.

Among the organizers of the event is entertainment mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, a co-chair of the Biden 2024 campaign.

"This Saturday, we are going to see an unprecedented and record- setting turnout from the media and entertainment world," Katzenberg said in remarks reported by the Los Angeles Times. "The enthusiasm and commitment for Biden-Harris couldn't be stronger. We all understand this is the most important election of our lifetime."

The fundraiser could be the last major event for Biden in the Southland ahead of the November election, making it a critical event for an incumbent dogged by continuing consumer complaints about inflation, the cost of groceries and gas, and rising division over the U.S. stance in the Israel-Hamas war.

The California Republican Party blasted the high-dollar fundraising event as out of touch with regular Americans though Trump was in Southern California the week before to raise money from supporters in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach. In Newport tickets were $3,300 for a lunch reception, $100,000 to be designated as a member of the host committee, and $35,000 for a photo opportunity. Trump also attended a fundraiser in Beverly Hills, with tickets ranging from $5,000 to $250,000.

"Nothing says to struggling Americans, `I understand what you're going through and am ready to help,' like spending a night schmoozing with the ultra-relatable George Clooney, Julia Roberts and other Hollywood celebrities," Jessica Millan Patterson, the California Republican Party chairwoman, said in a statement.

"What you likely will see at President Biden's glitzy L.A. bash: anti- Israel protests dividing their party, excuses for why issues like inflation and illegal immigration aren't as bad as Californians know they are, and a bevy of out-of-touch Hollywood elites who are fearful that their standard bearer isn't up to the job.

"What you likely won't see: targeted Democrat House members and candidates who don't want to be caught anywhere near an incredibly unpopular Biden," she said. "The typical Democrat Hollywood cash grab won't be enough to save Biden from voters retiring him in November."

Biden was last in the Los Angeles area in late February, when he attended a fundraiser at the home of Israeli American media mogul Haim Saban in the gated Beverly Park community, near Mulholland Drive.

Biden also made a brief stop in Los Angeles on Feb. 3-4, meeting with entertainment industry leaders to lobby for support for his campaign. The Times reported the meeting was held at a home owned by George Lucas.

In December, Biden was in the area for two days of fundraising events and campaign meetings, including a fundraiser at the home of investors Jose Feliciano and Kwanza Jones. He also attended a star-studded affair in Holmby Hills that included Steven Spielberg, Rob Reiner, Shonda Rhimes, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass and her former opponent, developer Rick Caruso, and a performance by Lenny Kravitz.

Protesters are expected as they have demonstrated outside events by the president and First Lady since start of the War in Gaza.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.