During his fundraising trip to Los Angeles this weekend, President Obama began by privately meeting a dozen liberal donors at the home of DreamWorks Animation Chief Jeffery Katzenberg. Obama’s “defender-in-chief,” former President Bill Clinton also attended.
When asked by reporters about the nature of the event, White House Traveling Press Secretary Jen Psaki would only say that it was a “thank-you event”
“We have actually done meetings or events with high-dollar donors who have maxed out or contributed a high amount to the campaign around other events before, Psaki explained. “So this is one of those events; it’s a thank-you event for a small group of donors.”
The event was closed to the press, as the press pooler reported that he held in the Katzenberg’s garage during the event, next to “an Audi and a Nissan Leaf.”
The exclusive guest list was not revealed to the press and no description of the event was given.
Later in the evening, President Obama publicly acknowledged the Katzenberg’s at a fundraiser.
“Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg have been tireless and stalwart and have never wavered through good times and bad since my first presidential race, back when a lot of people still couldn’t pronounce my name,” Obama said. “And I will always be grateful to them for just the incredible support that they’ve given.”
Katzenberg has maxed out to Obama and donated $2 million the pro-Obama super PAC, Priorities USA Action.
