Top Democrat in the House shares sincere views with Biden about what he should do next.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Meets with President Biden Amid Caucus Dissent
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) recently met with President Joe Biden after his NATO press conference to discuss the views of House Democrats, amidst growing dissension within the caucus. Despite the meeting, Jeffries did not disclose whether he advised Biden to stay in the presidential race.
In a letter sent out on Friday morning, Jeffries stated that he shared the sentiments of House Democrats with President Biden during their private meeting. However, he provided no further details regarding the meeting or Biden’s response.
“On behalf of the House Democratic Caucus, I requested and was graciously granted a private meeting with President Joe Biden. The meeting took place yesterday evening,” Jeffries 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.”
The letter did not serve as a resounding endorsement of Biden as the party’s presidential nominee. With new polling indicating Biden trailing in swing states and reports of slowing fundraising for his campaign, Congressional Democrats have struggled to display a strong and united front in support of the 81-year-old president.
Following his meeting with Biden, Jeffries released a brief letter to his caucus outlining the discussion they had regarding the future of the Democratic Party.
Biden’s press conference after this week’s NATO summit in Washington, D.C., aimed to address concerns about his health and stamina. During the press conference, Biden demonstrated his foreign policy expertise but also inadvertently referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as Donald Trump. Earlier that day, he had also confused the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, before swiftly correcting himself.
Despite the press conference’s intention to quell dissent within the party, more House Democrats came forward afterward, urging Biden not to seek re-election. Since the last debate, a total of 17 House Democrats and one Senate Democrat have explicitly called on Biden to step aside in favor of a younger candidate whom they believe has a better chance of defeating former President Donald Trump.
Representative Brittany Pettersen, a freshman lawmaker representing a Colorado swing district, joined the growing chorus of Democrats calling for Biden’s resignation, citing the need for new leadership at this critical juncture.
“I have deep admiration and love for Joe Biden and all he has done for our country, which is why this decision is so painful, but my son and my constituents can’t suffer the consequences of inaction at this critical moment,” Pettersen expressed on social media.
As the rift within the Democratic Party continues to widen, the future of Biden’s presidency remains uncertain. With calls for new leadership growing louder, the coming months will prove crucial in determining the party’s direction and potential presidential nominee.