Joe Biden’s dream of a grand presidential library is crumbling under donor skepticism. Former President Biden, now out of office, faces an uphill battle to secure funds for a legacy project that many Democratic heavyweights are refusing to back. Their reluctance reveals deeper frustrations with his leadership and lingering political fallout.
According to the New York Post, Biden’s fundraising woes stem from a mix of political caution and personal gripes among Democratic donors. More than half a dozen former supporters told NBC News they’re either sitting out or limiting contributions, citing concerns about becoming targets of the Trump administration. Others are hoarding cash for the Democratic Party’s future battles rather than a monument to Biden’s tenure.
Personal grudges also play a role, with some donors bristling at negative interactions with Biden’s inner circle. One donor bluntly said “no way” to giving, reflecting a broader sentiment of disenchantment. It’s a bitter pill for a party that once rallied behind Biden’s promise of stability.
Frustration with Biden’s decision to seek re-election despite health concerns fuels much of the donor backlash. His summer 2024 debate with Donald Trump, where his mental sharpness was questioned, led to his exit from the presidential race. That misstep left scars, with donors like John Morgan calling it the “Hindenburg” of Democratic woes.
Morgan, a prominent personal injury lawyer, went further, demanding an $800,000 refund for funds he raised that later supported Kamala Harris. “I don’t believe a library will ever be built unless it’s a bookmobile,” he quipped, dismissing Biden’s project as a relic of the past. His skepticism underscores a belief that Biden’s age and health make a grand library unlikely.
Other donors echo Morgan’s doubts, with major Democratic fundraiser Susie Buell stating she’s “not inclined” to support libraries. Nobody has even approached her for a contribution, a sign of the project’s faltering momentum. The apathy is palpable, and Biden’s team seems caught off guard.
Fear of political retaliation under Trump’s administration is a major hurdle. Donors worry that backing Biden’s library could paint a target on their backs, given Trump’s reputation for vindictiveness. Chris Korge, the Democratic National Committee’s fundraising chair, called it a “difficult time” to raise large sums for Democratic causes.
Korge himself urged Biden to abandon his re-election bid and focus on the library instead, a plea that went unheeded. Now, with Trump back in power, donors are wary of drawing his ire. It’s a pragmatic, if cynical, calculation that leaves Biden’s legacy project in limbo. Some donors also complain about the lack of access during Biden’s presidency, feeling used as ATMs with little personal engagement. They wrote checks but got no calls back, a sore point that now taints their willingness to give. Biden’s team, it seems, burned bridges that are hard to rebuild.
Despite the gloom, Rufus Gifford, the library board’s chairman and Biden’s former fundraising chief, remains hopeful. “This isn’t about the past. It’s about the future,” he told NBC News, trying to rally support for Biden’s legacy. But his optimism feels like whistling past the graveyard when donors are so openly skeptical.
The fundraising goal for Biden’s library is a modest $200 million to $300 million, far below the $850 million raised for Obama’s Chicago library, set to open soon. Meanwhile, Trump has already secured millions for his own future library, including a luxury jet from Qatar’s royal family. Biden’s team can only envy such largesse.
One donor, wishing Biden well but refusing to give, said they’d like him to have a “nice library” but won’t open their wallet. The sentiment captures the paradox: sympathy for Biden, but no cash to back it. It’s a polite but firm rejection of his legacy project.
Morgan’s blunt assessment that “no significant building will be built” reflects a broader doubt about Biden’s library ever materializing. He ties the project’s failure to Biden’s age and the party’s frustration with his re-election gamble. The image of a “bookmobile” as Biden’s legacy is a stinging jab from a former ally.
The Democratic Party’s donor base, once a reliable well, is drying up for Biden’s cause. With Harris’s quick rise to the nomination after Biden’s exit—and her subsequent loss to Trump in November 2024—donors see little reason to invest in a backward-looking project. They’re focused on future fights, not past glories.
Biden’s library saga is a cautionary tale of political missteps and frayed loyalties. Donors aren’t just closing their checkbooks; they’re signaling a shift away from Biden’s era. In a party eager to move on, his legacy risks being shelved before it’s even built.