Fund fest for Dems in NYC
President Biden landed in New York City on Thursday for a $25 million fundraiser with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — but had yet to publicly address the Monday killing of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, whose Long Island wake was attended by former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s star-studded visit to Radio City Music Hall was expected to set a record haul for a single event as the incumbent builds a substantial cash advantage over Trump, 77, the presumptive Republican nominee.
The 81-year-old Biden, accompanied by Obama, landed shortly after noon at JFK Airport, about 6 miles from where Diller was gunned down in Far Rockaway.
Biden, Obama and Clinton taped a “SmartLess” podcast interview with actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett.
At the fundraiser, CBS “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert moderated a discussion with the three Democratic presidents that was watched by some of the nation’s richest citizens, the most generous of whom had their photos snapped with the trio by Annie Leibovitz.
“This is an extraordinary occasion because three presidents have come to New York — and not one of them is here to appear in court,” Colbert jested, referring to Trump’s numerous Manhattan court appearances.
Comedian and actress Mindy Kaling hosted a portion of the event, which also featured musical acts by Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele.
The Biden campaign declined to comment on the record.
Protesters aplenty
The fundraiser was disrupted by several protesters, including one who was thrown out after blowing a whistle and warning of a “nuclear war with Russia.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of antiIsrael protesters congregated outside Radio City with some chanting “Genocide Joe has got to go!”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One that Biden spoke with Mayor Adams by phone to express his condolences for Diller’s death, but she did not say if the president called the officer’s family.