In the wake of President Biden's recent press conference, which was riddled with blunders and concluded the NATO summit in Washington, DC, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had a private meeting with the President.
This meeting occurred just hours before an 18th House Democrat publicly urged the President to withdraw from the 2024 race.
According to The New York Post, Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, disclosed in a "Dear Colleague" letter on Friday morning that he had the privilege of a private audience with the President. He wrote, "In my conversation with President Biden, I directly expressed the full breadth of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the path forward that the Caucus has shared in our recent time together." However, Jeffries did not comment on the President's re-election bid.
Later that Friday, Representative Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat from Colorado, issued a statement urging Biden to "pass the torch" to the next generation of leaders. Pettersen expressed her deep admiration for Biden and his contributions to the nation, but emphasized the need for action in this critical period. She stated, "Joe Biden saved our country once, and Im joining the growing number of people in my district and across the country to ask him to do it again." She further implored Biden to pass the leadership baton to a capable Democratic leader to increase the chances of defeating Donald Trump, who she described as the greatest threat to the nation's foundation.
Shortly after the press conference, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut, also called on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race. He expressed his belief that the 2024 election will be pivotal for American democracy and stressed the need for a strong candidate to counter Trump's promised MAGA authoritarianism. Himes stated, "I no longer believe that is Joe Biden."
Representatives Eric Sorensen and Scott Peters, both Democrats, echoed Himes' sentiments shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates praised Biden's foreign policy expertise, despite the President's verbal missteps during the press conference.
Before Biden addressed the press, over a dozen House Democrats and one Senate Democrat had publicly called for him to step aside and allow a successor, possibly Vice President Kamala Harris, to face Trump in the upcoming election. Some of these lawmakers represent competitive swing districts, while others, like Representative Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Illinois, have explicitly warned that Biden's candidacy could negatively impact Democrats in the 2024 election.
While Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, have continued to support Biden's re-election, House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, remained noncommittal on the campaign in a recent interview. Pelosi stated, "Its up to the president to decide if he is going to run," adding that she hopes everyone would support whatever decision Biden makes.
The increasing calls for Biden to step aside underscore the growing concern within the Democratic Party about the President's ability to lead effectively and secure a victory in the 2024 election. As the nation grapples with pressing issues, the need for strong, decisive leadership is more critical than ever. The coming weeks and months will undoubtedly reveal more about the Democratic Party's strategy for the 2024 election and the role President Biden will play in it.
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