Heiress Abigail Disney has announced that she will resume her donations to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Disney, who is the granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, had previously declared her intention to halt contributions until Biden was replaced as the Democratic nominee. In a statement to CNBC, she confirmed her return to supporting the party now that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
When she initially paused her donations, Disney expressed her support for Harris, highlighting the Vice President’s capabilities and calling for the Democratic Party to unite behind her. “We have an excellent Vice President. If Democrats could accept any of her perceived shortcomings even a fraction as much as they have tolerated Biden’s—and let’s not kid ourselves about where race and gender play into that disparity—then we could win this election decisively,” she stated.
Disney’s decision to withhold funds was in response to the pressure from several high-profile Democratic donors who expressed discontent with Biden’s performance during the debates, particularly against former President Donald Trump. Reports indicate that this donor dissatisfaction may have contributed to Biden’s decision to step aside. Alongside Disney, influential figures like George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have also thrown their support behind Harris following Biden’s announcement.