Abigail Disney, heiress and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, announced that she will resume her financial support for the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has decided not to seek reelection.
Earlier this month, Disney had stated her intention to halt contributions to the party until a new candidate replaced Biden at the top of the ticket. In an email response to CNBC on Monday, she confirmed, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” following Biden’s withdrawal and his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
When she initially announced her decision to withhold donations, Disney expressed her backing for Harris, praising her as an excellent Vice President. She criticized the Democratic Party for having higher tolerance for Biden’s shortcomings compared to those perceived in Harris, highlighting issues of race and gender in the party’s dynamics. Disney emphasized that if the party could unify and support Harris, they could achieve significant electoral success.
Disney is among several prominent Democratic donors who expressed frustration with Biden, particularly after what was seen as a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from these donors and a decrease in funding contributed to Biden’s decision to step down. Following Biden’s announcement, influential figures like George Soros and his son Alex Soros also endorsed Harris.