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.
Previously, Disney, a granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, had stated her intent to halt contributions until Biden was replaced at the top of the Democratic ticket. In an email to CNBC, she confirmed her renewed support, stating, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” now that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
When Disney initially declared her decision to stop funding, she expressed her backing for Harris. “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 let’s not kid ourselves about where race and gender figure in that inequity) and if Democrats can find a way to stop quibbling and rally around her, we can win this election by a lot,” she said.
Disney was among several prominent Democratic donors who expressed dissatisfaction with Biden, particularly after what many considered a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from influential donors and dwindling financial support contributed to Biden’s decision to step aside. Following the announcement of Biden’s exit, notable philanthropist George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also voiced their endorsement for Harris.