Jeffrey Katzenberg, the longtime Democratic donor and fundraiser, has evoked an image of Joe Biden as a Hollywood movie hero after the president decided to stand aside in the 2024 election.
In an op-ed in The New York Times, the media executive thanked Biden for his “selfless” act, comparing him to heroes in beloved films including Star Wars and The Lion King.
He wrote: “Under that concept, developed by the writer Joseph Campbell, the hero leaves home and is tested by personal tragedy and extreme challenges before arriving at a crucial moment when he or she makes a fateful, selfless decision. Just like Joe Biden.”
Katzenberg, who has served as co-chair of the Biden and Kamala Harris campaign, was among the Biden allies who warned the president earlier this month that donors were drying up due to ongoing concerns about the president’s age.
“To be sure, these past few weeks, the president held firm and made the case for the job he has done and was continuing to do,” Katzenberg said. “But he also listened. For the president, it was never about himself. It was about what was best for the country. The only thing that mattered was ensuring that Donald Trump never again set foot in the White House. When he saw that this mission was in jeopardy, the president did what few can do: This past Sunday, he selflessly let go of the reins.”
Turning to Harris, the former Disney executive said the presumptive Democratic nominee was the right person to beat Trump and lead America forward. She is likely to be declared the official nominee by August 7 after an electronic vote.
Katzenberg said: “Again and again, she has been underestimated. Again and again, she has triumphed. The vice president has won almost every election she’s ever competed in. She has spent an entire lifetime winning. I couldn’t be more confident that this November will be no different.”
He added: “May we have the wisdom to walk away from the would-be dictator who would turn back the clock and instead look to Kamala Harris, a new inspiring leader who can take us forward on our nation’s heroic journey.”
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