President Barack Obama attended an intimate fundraiser in Los Angeles on Monday night.
About two dozen people gathered at the Beverly Hills home of former DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg and wife Marilyn to participate in a discussion with the president, who opened with a 10-minute address before conceding the floor to his guests,
Top tickets, according to multiple reports, went for $100,000 and benefit the Hillary Victory Fund, the joint fundraising committee for Hillary for America, the Democratic National Committee, and 33 state Democratic committees.
Katzenberg and wife Marilyn hosted the event, billed as “a small roundtable discussion,” along with couples Crystal and Chris Sacca, and Jennifer Perry and Andy Spahn.
Other guests included J.J. Abrams and wife Katie McGrath and Skip Brittenham of Ziffren Brittenham.
Obama also made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, as well as a fundraising event at the home of TV powerhouse Ryan Murphy.
The Monday evening event comes just days after democratic fundraiser Katzenberg appeared at the GLSEN Respect Awards in Beverly Hills on October 21. He took the stage two times during the course of the event, which was attended by Julia Roberts and Kate Hudson, and on one of those outings he took aim at Clinton’s Republican rival Donald Trump.
“It’s one thing to have to deal with bullying by a child on a play yard; it’s something else when the bullying is coming from a candidate for president,” he said. “You know, to be sure, campaigns are supposed to be tough competitions. To some degree, that’s OK as long as everyone shows mutual respect, follows the rules and accepts the final outcome.”
This was a clear nod to Trump’s controversial comments in the most recent debate with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, when he said, “I will look at it at the time,” after being pressed over whether he would concede the election on Nov. 8 if the numbers aren’t in his favor. The shocking declaration was a first for a presidential nominee.
“When this basic civil behavior is flaunted by a supposed grown-up who aspires to be the leader of our nation, its understandable if our children get confused, which is why we need GLSEN more than ever,” continued Katzenberg, before adding his most charged rhetoric about Trump. “GLSEN is on the front lines combating the toxic, abusive, despicable message that one man with a mic has been spewing throughout this incredibly painful year. GLSEN offers a voice of reason that connects directly with kids to let them know that they can be better than what they are seeing today on the news. I can’t imagine a more important cause to support.”
