President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will make a fundraising swing through Los Angeles starting Friday, rubbing elbows with Hollywood's elite to benefit his reelection bid.
According to the White House, the president will be in Los Angeles from Friday to Sunday.
During the visit, Jill Biden is scheduled to visit Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Friday to tour research laboratories as part of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research. She plans to tour the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center and Smidt Heart Institute, according to the White House.
"Every woman I know has a story about leaving her doctor's office with more questions than answers," the first lady said when the initiative was announced. "Not because our doctors are withholding information, but because there's just not enough research yet on how to best manage and treat even common women's health conditions. In 2023, that is unacceptable.
"Our new White House Initiative on Women's Health Research will help change that by identifying bold solutions to uncover the answers that every woman and her family deserves. We also are calling on congressional leaders, the private sector, research institutions, and philanthropy to join us in taking urgent action to improve the health and lives of women throughout the nation."
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According to the White House, the initiative is aimed at "galvanizing the federal government and the private and philanthropic sectors to spur innovation, unleash transformative investment to close research gaps, and improve women's health."
Jill Biden is also expected to appear at fundraisers for her husband on Friday and Saturday.
Friday's fundraiser will take place in Santa Monica, according to the Office of the First Lady. It will be attended by Hollywood heavyweights including Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, Peter Chernin, Jim Gianopulos and Rob Reiner, while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is among those expected to attend, according to multiple media reports.
Deadline reported that designer Michael Smith and former U.S. ambassador to Spain James Costos will be hosting the event, which will include a performance by Lenny Kravitz.
According to Deadline, tickets for the event began at $1,000, ranging to $3,300 and as high as $500,000. Those who contribute $25,000 or more will have access to a photo line.
The Associated Press reported that Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks, will also host a fundraising gathering for Biden during the presidential visit.
As with any presidential visit, motorists can anticipate sporadic traffic headaches as Biden moves around town, prompting temporary rolling street or freeway closures. The president will fly into Los Angeles International Airport, and is typically then taken by helicopter to Santa Monica before traveling by motorcade.
Presidential visits also traditionally generate protests, which are particularly likely given tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas war. The Los Angeles Police Department issued a statement Thursday saying it is coordinating with the Secret Service, and "additional uniformed personnel and other resources will be deployed to ensure the highest level of public safety."
"The department will continue to work with any protest organizers to facilitate lawful demonstrations while protecting the safety of all involved including surrounding communities," according to the department. "Violence of any kind will not be tolerated. The Los Angeles Police Department is asking that all individuals and groups involved in protest or counter-protest activities not allow individuals who express the intent to commit violence of property (damage) to compromise the otherwise lawful demonstration."
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