Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) confronted President Biden about his candidacy in the 2024 race, telling the president in a private conversation over the weekend that it would be better if he dropped out of the race, ABC news reported Wednesday.
The reported meeting, along with a report that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) privately suggested that Biden’s continued campaign could jeopardize the election contests, marks an escalation of pressure on the president after his disastrous debate against former President Trump. last month.
Schumer, who has maintained public support for Biden amid the debate fallout, reportedly met with the president in Rehoboth Beach, Del., on Saturday, ABC News reported, citing several “well-connected Democratic sources.” During the meeting, the Senate leader reportedly had a “frank conversation” with Biden and explained why it would be better for him to drop out of the race, according to ABC.
When reached for comment on the report, a spokesperson for Schumer said he “conveyed the caucus’ views directly” to the president last Saturday and did not share further details.
“Unless ABC’s source is Senator Chuck Schumer or President Joe Biden, the report is idle speculation,” Schumer’s spokesperson said.
Politico later reported Schumer expressed to Biden in that meeting concerns about Democratic losses in November, citing a person close to Schumer.
“The meeting discussed recent polls, the Democratic Party and where it is going,” the person told POLITICO, adding that the discussion “was based on recent issues facing the president.”
This comes after Senate Democratic sources told The Hill earlier this month that Schumer has confided in some of his Senate colleagues that he has serious doubts about Biden’s ability to defeat Trump, while acknowledging that it is ultimately up to the president decide whether to stay. on the run.
Schumer told colleagues he did not want to publicly question Biden’s viability as a candidate out of fear it would hurt the president and could harm Democratic votes in the fall elections, Senate sources said at the time.
Jeffries, like Schumer, publicly maintained support for Biden and “the Democratic ticket”. However, in a private meeting with Biden last week, he also urged the president to resign, ABC reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
O Washington Post reported on Wednesday night that both leaders, in these separate meetings, expressed similar concerns about how Biden’s candidacy could cost Democrats as they try to win majorities in Congress, potentially making it easier for Republicans to advance their legislative priorities. The report cited four people briefed on the meetings who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Jeffries’ office did not immediately respond to The Hill for comment.
A spokesperson for Jeffries pointed ABC to the July 12 letter Jeffries sent to House Democrats, which revealed he spoke with Biden privately the night before. Jeffries, in the letter, told colleagues that he conveyed “the full breadth” of thoughts he heard in his caucus.
The meeting — revealed in a letter to colleagues Friday morning — came after Jeffries spoke to a large group of House Democrats in the two weeks since last month’s debate, raising concerns about Biden’s viability at the top. of the presidential ticket. The meeting followed Biden’s high-stakes press conference that night, a source familiar told The Hill at the time.
When asked about the president’s discussions with Schumer and Jeffries, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said Biden “has told both leaders that he is the party’s candidate, that he plans to win, and that he looks forward to working with both of them to approve your 100 day agenda to help working families.”
Several House Democrats, along with Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), publicly urged Biden to withdraw after their weak debate. Earlier Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) became one of the most prominent and high-ranking Democrats calling for his withdrawal.
Biden, who acknowledged his poor debate performance, said he intends to stay in the race and could defeat Trump at the polls in November.
Brett Samuels, Mychael Schnell and Alexander Bolton contributed reporting.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
