Joe Biden hosts farewell White House soirée, jokes with donors: "Don’t jump in the pool"

President Joe Biden hosted a South Lawn dinner to thank Democratic donors, sparking mixed reactions post-election.

President Joe Biden lightheartedly urged a gathering of Democratic donors and insiders to refrain from jumping into the White House pool during a weekend dinner held to express gratitude before his term concludes.

“Good evening everyone . . . If you have a seat, please take it. Don’t jump in the pool!” Biden joked, drawing laughter at the formal tented event on the South Lawn, which featured the pool and fountain as its backdrop.

Courtesy: AFP

“[First Lady] Jill [Biden] and I are hosting this dinner tonight for a very simple reason — to say thank you. Thank you to so many dear friends,” he continued, as captured in a video shared on C-SPAN.

Biden added, “We began this journey to redeem the soul of the nation and define the light in the darkness. And I never could have gotten to where the White House has become without you and we never could have gotten as much done as we did without you. And that’s not hyperbole. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

Attendees included prominent donors, members of Biden’s cabinet, and long-time supporters of the Bidens, along with former and current ambassadors who gathered for the exclusive event.

Notable figures in the crowd included former Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen, who were seen chatting with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

However, some donors who had contributed $250,000 or more opted to skip the event. 

One insider remarked, “Insiders who were invited and didn’t go are calling it ‘the losers party.’ ”

The source explained, “Many said they didn’t want to be associated with the Dems right now because of the embarrassing loss” to Donald Trump in the election, “and anger over the $1.5 billion spent on the campaign that failed.”