Rep. James Clyburn says Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will appear more often on the campaign trail for Joe Biden after the trio headlined a fundraiser in New York last week.
The South Carolina congressman and assistant Democratic leader said the three presidents will come together to “show the defense of democracy” as Biden runs for re-election against Donald Trump in 2024.
Outside the fundraiser featuring Biden, Obama and Clinton, pro-Palestinian protesters descended to object to the current administration’s position on the war between Israel and Hamas.
They raised more than $25 million, with some tickets costing as much as $500,000.
Democratic Rep. James Clyburn said Sunday that former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will appear more on the campaign trail for President Joe Biden in his 2024 reelection bid against Donald Trump
The trio of Democratic presidents appeared at Radio City Music’s $25 million fundraiser, with some tickets costing as much as $500,000. Clyburn said the appearance was a “show of unity and a show of defense of democracy.”
“Congressman, do you expect these former presidents to routinely campaign? Will they be a common presence on the campaign trail?’ NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker asked Rep. Clyburn on Sunday.
“I think so, but not to show strength, but more to show unity – unity of purpose, to show defense of democracy,” Clyburn said. “That’s what’s going on here.”
‘Three former presidents, all three of whom have had their challenges. But each of them stood for what is right in this country, and that is protecting this democracy and placing themselves below the needs, the dreams and the aspirations of the American people,” the lawmaker said.
Clyburn, a surrogate for Biden in South Carolina, concluded: “So what we saw last Thursday in New York was a show of unity and a show of defense of democracy. And that is what we need in this country at this particular time.”
The New York fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall descended into chaos as the three Democratic presidents were interviewed by Stephen Colbert – and were interrupted by protesters.
A handful of pro-Palestinian protesters shouted at the presidents, with one woman telling Biden, “You have blood on your hands.”
Another loud guy warned of nuclear war with Russia and shouted, “You’ve gone crazy.”
“As you know, the war in the Middle East is hanging over this event, including for some protesters,” Welker told Clyburn, noting that some lawmakers agree that Israel is committing “genocide” against the Palestinian people.
Clyburn spoke with NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on Sunday about the former presidents’ presence on the campaign trail
“Do you agree with Congressman (Alexandria) Ocasio-Cortez that what is happening is in fact a genocide?” she asked.
‘Well, I didn’t analyze it to that extent. But I will tell you this: what is happening is wrong,” Clyburn responded. “And we have to make it right. And that’s what President Biden is trying to do, trying to make amends.”
He insisted: ‘We stand with the people of Israel.’
“And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undermined that two-way solution for as long as he has been in power. He sold his soul to the right-wingers in Israel to keep power for himself,” Clyburn added.