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Jimmy Williams
President Joe Biden criticized the U.S. Supreme Court at a high-profile fundraiser in Los Angeles on Saturday night, highlighting the potential impact of Donald Trump nominating more justices if he wins a second term. Biden called Trump’s ability to appoint more justices “one of the scariest parts” of a potential second Trump presidency.
Biden predicted that the next president could appoint two new Supreme Court justices. “If Trump is elected, he’s going to appoint two more [justices] flying flags upside down,” Biden said, referring to Justice Samuel Alito, who has faced backlash for controversial flags flown at his homes.
“This has never been a court that’s so far out of step,” Biden said at the star-studded event.
Although Alito was not appointed by Trump, the former president did nominate three conservative justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Reproductive freedom is a central theme of Biden’s reelection campaign. Biden also mentioned Justice Clarence Thomas’ argument that the court should “reconsider” past rulings on contraception and same-sex marriage, according to pool reports.
When an attendee shouted about potential threats to gay rights, Biden responded, “Not on my watch.”
The fundraiser featured a conversation with Biden and former President Barack Obama, moderated by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The event raised at least $28 million, the largest single-night haul for a Democratic candidate ever, and included actors such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jason Bateman, and Kathryn Hahn.
The money raised will likely boost Biden’s cash totals in June, following a slowdown in fundraising in April.
Obama also criticized Trump, referencing his recent legal troubles. “The spectacle of the nominee of one of the two major parties sitting in court and being convicted by a jury of his peers on 34 counts” is troubling, Obama said. “There are certain standards and values we should stand for,” he added.
Obama praised Biden’s accomplishments, saying, “We can take pride in affirming the extraordinary work that Joe has done.”
Biden’s fundraiser came after a day of campaigning by Trump in Michigan, where the former president criticized Biden on issues such as inflation, immigration, and foreign policy, calling him “the worst president in the history of our country.”
