Heiress Abigail Disney announced that she will resume her financial contributions to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Earlier this month, Disney, whose grandfather co-founded The Walt Disney Company, stated that she would withhold donations until Biden was replaced at the top of the ticket. In an email to CNBC, she confirmed her return to supporting the party, stating, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” now that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
When she previously announced the halt on her donations, Disney also expressed her backing for Harris. She emphasized the Vice President’s capabilities, saying, “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.”
Disney’s stance reflects a trend among elite Democratic donors who expressed dissatisfaction with Biden, particularly after his underwhelming debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that the pressure from donors and declining financial support contributed to Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race.
Notably, George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also lent their support to Harris following Biden’s announcement of stepping aside.