George Clooney will be attending a high-profile fundraiser in Los Angeles on Saturday evening, an event that will also feature President Biden. Clooney’s appearance follows reports that he called the White House earlier this month to express his displeasure with Biden’s criticism of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The gala, held at the Peacock Theater, is expected to raise significant funds, with ticket prices ranging from $250 to $500,000 for exclusive access, including photos with Biden and former President Obama, and entry to an after-party.
The event will attract other Hollywood stars, including Julia Roberts, and is anticipated to generate millions of dollars. President Biden will arrive in Los Angeles directly from the G-7 summit in Italy, where he has been meeting with world leaders.
His participation in the fundraiser means he will not attend a summit in Switzerland focused on ending the war in Ukraine, with Vice President Kamala Harris representing the U.S. at that event instead.
Clooney’s participation follows his reported call to the White House earlier in the month, in which he complained about Biden’s remarks concerning the ICC’s efforts to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Clooney’s wife, Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, has been involved in this case. Clooney was concerned about the potential for the Biden administration to impose sanctions on the ICC, which could affect his wife.
Joining Clooney at the fundraiser will be former President Obama and Julia Roberts, with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel interviewing the celebrities onstage. In messages to donors, Roberts emphasized the importance of the election, while Kimmel pointed out that the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, would disapprove of the event, encouraging participation.
The fundraiser reflects the entertainment industry’s increasing support for Biden’s campaign, aiming to boost fundraising and motivate voters to turn out against Trump in the upcoming election. The involvement of high-profile celebrities is seen as a strategy to energize supporters and ensure strong voter turnout.