In the aftermath of the 2024 election, President Joe Biden's leadership has been described as a "total vacuum" by White House officials.
This characterization comes amid concerns about the morale within the Democratic party, largely due to Biden's conspicuous silence following the election.
According to Mediaite, nearly two dozen officials have expressed their concerns about the state of the party. The report highlights that Biden has only "spoken just seven words to the media traveling with him" in the fortnight following the election. The President has not yet scheduled a post-election press conference, a tradition upheld by his predecessors, Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, during their respective transitions out of office.
Biden's post-election agenda has been filled with various engagements, including publicly lauding a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in the Rose Garden, meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and addressing the press about Bashar Al-Assad's departure from Syria. However, his domestic schedule has also included less politically charged events such as honoring the 2024 NBA champions, expressing gratitude to longtime supporters at a South Lawn dinner, and participating in a Friendsgiving event.
Multiple aides to Biden attribute his silence to his own understanding that "few are eager to hear from him." They also suggest that Biden feels he "doesn't owe much more to a party that unceremoniously pushed him aside" following his sole debate with President-elect Donald Trump. Consequently, many within the party are not enthusiastic about his return to a more prominent role.
A Democrat close to senior lawmakers shared their perspective, stating, "In conversations that I'm having, they don't even mention the president. It's kind of sad." This sentiment underscores the perception that President-elect Trump is already assuming the mantle of leadership, leaving Biden in the shadows.
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