US President Joe Biden didn’t let jet lag slow him down on Saturday, as he flew directly from the G7 summit in Italy to Los Angeles for a fundraising event packed with celebrities in support of his upcoming election against Donald Trump.
Joining Biden at the event was former President Barack Obama, as well as actors like Julia Roberts and George Clooney, and singing legend Barbra Streisand.
Despite the star-studded crowd, the tone turned serious when Biden addressed his opponent Trump, highlighting the potential impact of the upcoming Supreme Court nominations on the election outcome.
In reference to a recent controversy involving a conservative justice and an inverted American flag, a symbol linked to Trump’s false election fraud claims, Biden stated, “The idea that if he’s reelected he’s going to appoint two more flying flags upside down.”
Trump, who is running for president as a convicted felon in an unprecedented move, was also active on the campaign trail, boasting about his fundraising efforts in Detroit, Michigan, a crucial state for Biden’s electoral success in November.
Trump visited a Black church in Detroit to challenge Biden’s support among African Americans and later spoke at a convention of high-profile Republicans and supporters of his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
Meanwhile, Biden aimed to boost his campaign with Hollywood glamour and substantial financial support. The gala evening with Hollywood stars, including Obama, is reported to have raised $28 million, making it the largest Democratic fundraiser ever.
While Biden skipped an important international peace conference for Ukraine to attend the fundraiser, his recent focus has been on foreign policy matters such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Accompanied by his family, Biden’s appearance at the event in LA marked a shift from his recent foreign affairs engagements, signaling the beginning of a more intense campaign phase leading up to the November election.
Biden and Trump are neck-and-neck in polls, with both engaging in a fundraising battle and gearing up for their first major debate on June 27.
The upcoming campaign is expected to showcase the candidates’ contrasting views on issues like abortion and democracy, with Biden preparing to counter potential personal attacks from Trump.
