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 election. Disney, whose grandfather co-founded The Walt Disney Company, previously stated that she would cease her contributions until a new candidate was chosen to lead the party.
In an email to CNBC, 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.
Disney had previously expressed support for Harris when she announced her intention to halt donations, highlighting the Vice President’s qualifications. She noted, “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.”
Her decision to withdraw support from Biden aligns with a growing sentiment among elite donors within the Democratic Party who became disillusioned following Biden’s performance in debates against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from the donor class contributed to Biden’s decision to exit the race.
Notable figures like George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also voiced their support for Harris after Biden’s announcement.