Heiress Abigail Disney has announced her intention to resume donations to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 election. Disney, whose grandfather co-founded The Walt Disney Company, previously stated she would cease contributions until Biden was replaced at the top of the ticket.
In an email to CNBC on Monday, Disney confirmed her decision, stating, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” now that Biden has stepped down and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
When she initially decided to halt her donations, Disney expressed her support for Harris, noting the Vice President’s potential to lead the party. She remarked, “We have an excellent Vice President. If Democrats would tolerate any of her perceived shortcomings even one-tenth as much as they have tolerated Biden’s… and if Democrats can find a way to stop quibbling and rally around her, we can win this election by a lot.”
Disney’s previous decision to withhold donations was part of a broader backlash from several elite Democratic donors against Biden, particularly following his underwhelming debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from major donors and a decline in financial support contributed to Biden’s decision to exit the race.
Notably, billionaire George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also voiced their endorsement for Harris after Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.