Biden library fundraising way behind pace

Joe Biden was not exactly popular when he left office, but you would think Democrats would eventually forgive him. That does not appear to be happening, however.

Nearly one year after leaving office, Biden only has about $11 million of the $200 million he needs pledged to build his presidential library.

How It Got Started

There were two key moments that really cost Biden in terms of support.

The first was the awful debate he had with Trump, which resulted in him being pressured to withdraw from the election, which then gave Kamala Harris the excuse that she did not have enough time for a proper campaign.

The second, and far more devastating, was Biden pardoning his son, Hunter, right before he left office. This even shook some of the most loyal Biden supporters.

Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) stated, “I’m disappointed this was the decision that he landed on here. He promised he would not do this. I think it will make it harder for us going forward when we talk about upholding democracy.”

Not Again

Biden only made matters worse when he decided to come back to the political world after taking a few months out of the public eye after leaving office.

Former Jill Biden staffer, Michael LaRosa, explained, “I love both Bidens dearly, but staff loyalty means there is a responsibility to provide them with an honest situational awareness, especially when it comes to their public image, no matter how hurtful it is to hear.”

He later added, “Biden’s reemergence, while it changed very little in the news cycle, provided a detour for [Trump] to distract his cadre of supporters with Biden taunts and blame, giving Fox News nearly 48 hours of fresh new programming, taking editorial aim at the former president instead of the current one.”

Everything Biden did and had done was the wrong move, and people just wanted him to go away.

No Money for You

According to reports. Biden needs about $200 million to build, and pledges thus far are only about 5% of the way there. Not only that, but a lot of donors who would normally give have vowed not to donate any money.

For instance, Joe Morgan, a longtime Democrat donor, confirmed he would not donate “a penny,” adding, "The Biden staff, they ruined any type of good library for him. He’ll be lucky to have a bookmobile."

Additionally, The New York Times reported, "Still, Mr. Biden’s foundation told the I.R.S. this year that it expected to bring in just $11.3 million, total, by the end of 2027. That would be far below the pace set by other recent presidents, and far less than the $200 million that Mr. Biden’s aides say they want to raise eventually.”

Joe Biden may have to settle for a small roadside stand at this point, or, as Morgan suggested, a bookmobile. With the upcoming battles for the 2026 cycle, I just don’t see a lot of people writing checks for Joe Biden.