Abigail Disney, an heiress and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, announced she will resume her donations to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Disney had previously stated she would cease contributions until Biden stepped aside, expressing her support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
In her response to CNBC on Monday, Disney confirmed her intention to support the party again now that Biden has endorsed Harris as his successor. When she initially announced her withholding of donations, she praised Harris, emphasizing that the Democratic Party needed to rally behind her: “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… we can win this election by a lot,” she remarked.
Disney’s earlier stance was part of a broader dissatisfaction among elite Democratic donors, many of whom were disillusioned by Biden’s debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from influential donors played a role in Biden’s decision to exit the race. Following Biden’s announcement, prominent figures like George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also expressed their support for Harris.