Four — count ‘em, four — presidents came to New York Thursday. And while our anticlimactic presidential primary is just days away (don’t forget to vote!) the focus was squarely on November. President Joe Biden took the stage at Radio City Music Hall with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, reportedly breaking fundraising records for a single event by bringing in $25 million. But the evening was not all upside for the president: Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the event multiple times, while a cease-fire protest raged outside. They chanted “genocide supporter” at attendees as they left. Read all about the event here. Hours earlier and 35 miles away, Donald Trump attended the Long Island wake for NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop. Backed up by Nassau County police — not the NYPD, City Hall was eager to note — Trump praised GOP County Executive Bruce Blakeman who “worked so hard to make this area beautiful and safe.” On the killing, he said, “We’ve got to have law and order. These things can’t happen.” The split screen of wake versus fundraiser seemed deliberate for Trump, as Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito — whose own reelection hinges on Biden’s bringing out the vote on Long Island — eagerly pointed out. The Democrats “are raising money & partying w/ @Lizzo,” while Trump “is on #LongIsland saluting my fallen #NYPD brother, consoling the Diller family & denouncing this pro-criminal, anti cop agenda,” he posted on X. That tragedy, and Biden’s visit, also broke the ice in a small way between Biden and Mayor Eric Adams. The two Democrats talked on the phone, and Biden paid his condolences for Diller’s death. “I really appreciated him calling,” Adams told Playbook Thursday afternoon. But declined to say if they talked about anything else, like migrant funding. It was the first time they’d personally talked, as far as we know, since January 2023 amid ongoing criticism from Adams on Biden’s response to the city’s migrant crisis. Adams didn’t attend the fundraiser due to scheduling conflicts, though he was invited, a person familiar with the planning told Playbook. Inside, NY Dems Chair Jay Jacobs texted Playbook he was in line for a photo with the presidents. “It’s a who’s who,” he added — attended by Sen. Chuck Schumer and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Greg Meeks and Jerry Nadler, among others. But most folks had to wait an hour in the cold rain to get in — even members of the Biden administration like Deputy U.S. Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, who told Playbook she was there “as a civilian.” Assemblymember Alex Bores, who will be a delegate at the Democratic National Convention for Biden and also waited in line. “Every election we hear it’s the most important election of our lifetime,” he said. “I don’t want to give into that trope, but the stakes on this one feel quite substantial.” — Jeff Coltin HAPPY FRIDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
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