It was a who’s who of leftist politicians and celebrities at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Thursday when President Joe Biden joined former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama for a star-studded fundraiser.
As with many other events involving Biden in recent weeks, however, pro-Palestine protesters were on hand to provide some shrill interruptions.
One demonstrator held a sign referring to the president as a “war pig” and disrupted the panel discussion by blowing into a whistle. Subsequent interruptions included shouts of “Blood on your hands” and “Shame on you” directed at Biden.
The panel, which was moderated by “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, was interrupted at least six times. Meanwhile, a large group of protesters gathered outside and engaged in chants such as “Genocide Joe has got to go” and “F— Joe Biden.”
At one point, Obama shot back at the protesters, asserting: “You can’t just talk, you have to listen.”
With tickets to the fundraiser fetching as much as $500,000 each, the event was predicted to rake in a staggering $25 million to aid Biden’s lackluster re-election campaign.
His likely challenger in a 2020 general election rematch was also in the Big Apple on Thursday, albeit for a more somber reason. Former President Donald Trump attended a wake and funeral service for Jonathan Diller, a New York Police Department officer killed earlier in the week in the line of duty.
CONTRAST IN NEW YORK CITY YESTERDAY: While Biden, Obama, and Clinton were in New York City to receive $25 million for the Biden campaign, Trump was there to give support to the family of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller. pic.twitter.com/LQD7ntINfP
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 29, 2024
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung highlighted the dichotomy of the two New York City appearances in a statement ahead of the presumptive Republican nominee’s visit.
“President Trump will be honoring the life and legacy of Officer Diller and paying respects to his family, friends, and the NYPD for their terrible loss,” he said. “Meanwhile, the Three Stooges — Biden, Obama, and Clinton — will be at a glitzy fundraiser in the city with their elitist, out-of-touch celebrity benefactors.”
Colbert brought up the root cause of the protests — the ongoing Israel-Hamas war — during the event, asking Biden for his take on how the situation should be handled from the U.S. perspective.
“There has to be a train to a two-state solution,” the president said. “It doesn’t have to occur today. It has to be professional. And I think we can do that. That’s why we’re seeing more avenues open into Israel, us getting into Gaza to bring food and medicine, and there’s much more we can do.”
