Anti-Israel protesters shut down Fifth Ave. as Biden calls Trump ‘existential threat’ at NYC fundraiser

President Biden told business leaders Wednesday that former President Donald Trump is an “existential threat” during a three-stop fundraising tour of New York City that was beset by anti-Israel protesters who blocked Fifth Avenue outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“There is one existential threat: it’s Donald Trump,” the 81-year-old president said at his first stop of the day — an environment-focused afternoon gathering at the Upper West Side home of Larry Linden, the former managing director of Goldman Sachs.

“He’ll try to undo everything we’ve done… We can’t let that happen,” Biden told the approximately 17 invited guests, saying also in his remarks, “There is only one existential threat we face in the world: and that’s the environment.”

Businessmen whose environmental projects align with Biden’s program of subsidies and incentives were expected to attend, including Earthrise Energy director Reuben Munger and David Elenowitz of Zero Carbon Partners, Bloomberg reported.

Bain Capital senior adviser and former co-chairman Josh Bekenstein, real estate magnate Dan Tishman and hedge fund founder Mark Gallogly also were expected to attend.

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The second fundraiser was held at the decadent Mandarin Oriental Hotel near Columbus Circle and was hosted by Dr. Ramon Tallaj, chairman of the nonprofit SOMOS Community Care and a member of Mayor Eric Adams’s COVID-19 recovery task force.

JPMorgan managing director Nikul Patel was expected to be among 200 or so guests, as was investor Michael Sonnenfeldt, chairman and founder of Tiger21, an organization that describes itself as “the premier peer-to-peer learning network for high-net-worth first generation wealth creators in North America and Europe.”

At the second event Biden implored his audience to “imagine the nightmare of Trump’s return.”

“You’re the reason Donald Trump is a defeated former president. And you’re the reason we’ll make Donald Trump a loser again,” Biden said.

A wire reporter present for the remarks tweeted that Biden coughed during his remarks and then said, “Excuse me, I swallowed a cough drop.”

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The president also lavished praise on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was present, telling her, “You are an incredible governor.”

“She has absolute total integrity,” Biden added of Hochul, who has garnered scrutiny for a $637 million state contract to buy COVID-19 tests from a political donor, more than double the going rate.

As he spoke, a few dozen protesters camped out on Fifth Avenue during rush hour, blocking the venue for Biden’s third fundraiser in protest of his support for Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas terrorists killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 others in an Oct. 7 surprise attack.

Protesters wore shirts that said “Jews say ceasefire now!” and were cleared out in time for Biden to arrive at the home of his third wealthy host, Maureen White, whose husband Steven Rattner manages billionaire former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s fortune.

Actor Robert De Niro joined about 50 other guests at the final stop, which proceeded roughly on schedule after police cuffed the demonstrators.

Police reported dozens of arrests, mainly for disorderly conduct.

A 29-year-old woman who was wearing a sweater that read “CEASEFIRE” and did not want to give her name in fear of “job retaliation” told The Post: “I’m not even supposed to be here right now. I called out just to make sure I didn’t miss this.” 

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“We will not let this warmonger drive around our streets and our city like he is not causing death and destruction in our name,” she said.

“While he is in our city, he will feel nothing but disruptions.” 

Asked if she had thought about the possibility of being arrested for disruptions, she said, “We’ll get out.” 

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“I try to be cautious of an arrest because I still have to work but if letting my voice be heard has the slightest chance in stopping a war, then I have to try,” she said.

The president invoked a different war at his third fundraiser — urging more US assistance to Ukraine as the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches. His request for $60 billion in new aid to Kyiv is stalled in Congress.

Russian President Vladimir Putin “is on the balls of his heels and what are we doing? Stepping back? Stepping back?” Biden asked at one point.

Biden made the fundraising blitz as he seeks to maintain his large cash advantage over presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is leading in most national and swing-state polls despite facing up to four criminal trials before the November election.

With reporting by Desheania Andrews