President Biden jokingly urged a roomful of Democratic donors and insiders not to jump in the White House pool at a weekend dinner to thank them before he leaves office.
But some attendees still felt all wet after the election.
“Good evening, everyone … If you have a seat, please take it. Don’t jump in the pool!” Biden said to laughs at the tented black-tie soiree on the White House South Lawn, where the pool and fountain are located.
“[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 added, according to a video on C-SPAN.
“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.”
We hear that guests included big donors and Biden’s cabinet, as well as friends and others who have been super-supportive of the Bidens through the years. Former and current ambassadors came in for the elite event.
Spotted among the crowd was former Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen, who were chatting with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
One source said some donors who’d given $250,000 skipped the bash.
“Insiders who were invited and didn’t go are calling it ‘the losers party,’ ” groused one source. “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.”
But another attendee described the event as a “real love fest,” adding, “It was of course sad, but also just a real sense of appreciation for the Bidens. It was absolutely gorgeous.”
The source said, “Weirdly, it was also really fun — like a last hurrah.”
There were also musical performances.
Biden, 82, gave praise to Jill, but did not mention Trump or the election. He said, “Our cause endures.”
A rep for the White House did not immediately get back to us.
