House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama have reportedly raised concerns about President Biden's ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in 2024, adding to mounting pressure on Biden to reconsider his re-election bid.
The walls seem to be closing in on President Biden's re-election campaign as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama reportedly express doubts about his chances against former President Donald Trump in the 2024 race.
Pelosi reportedly told Biden in a phone call that polls show he cannot defeat Trump and that him staying in the race could damage Democrats' chances of taking the House in November. The phone call marks the second time Pelosi and Biden have spoken since the president's disastrous debate performance against Trump on June 27.
Biden's 2024 Hopes Dwindle as Pelosi, Obama Express Doubts
Sources told CNN that Pelosi did not explicitly tell Biden to drop out of the race, but Biden responded by pushing back, saying he had seen polls that indicated he could win. One source described Biden as getting defensive about the polls.
It is unclear when the call took place, but one CNN source says it was held within the last week. Pelosi and Biden also spoke in early July.
Biden's 2024 Hopes Dwindle as Pelosi, Obama Express Doubts
A spokesperson for Pelosi declined to comment on private conversations with the president, but said she "respects the confidentiality" of their meetings.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Biden's 2024 Hopes Dwindle as Pelosi, Obama Express Doubts
Pelosi is a longtime Biden ally who has supported him throughout his political career, including during his two terms as vice president and his first two years as president. She has ushered major pieces of Biden's agenda through Congress, including the American Rescue Plan and the bipartisan infrastructure law.
However, in the wake of Biden's debate performance and declining poll numbers, Pelosi has reportedly been encouraging lawmakers to put pressure on Biden to reconsider his decision to run for re-election.
Biden's 2024 Hopes Dwindle as Pelosi, Obama Express Doubts
The Washington Post reports that Obama told his allies in recent days that he believes Biden needs to reconsider his candidacy. Biden has faced mounting calls to step aside since his disastrous debate performance, and his campaign has been in disarray ever since.
On Wednesday, influential Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff called on Biden to drop out, telling Fox News Digital that he has "serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November."
Reuters, citing a top White House source, reported that Pelosi backed Schiff's call for Biden to drop out of the race, although her office did not address the report.
Last week, a number of House Democrats told The Hill that Pelosi was advising members in their conference against rallying to Biden before there is a broader discussion over whether he is the best candidate to defeat Trump.
"I did have a conversation with her, she is very concerned," one House Democratic lawmaker told The Hill. "It’s not like she’s like, ‘We’re sticking with this guy.
Biden's campaign had hoped that the attempted assassination of Trump, in which he sustained a wound to the right ear, had tamped down calls for Biden to step aside. However, the pressure on Biden has continued to grow as his approval ratings have plummeted and his campaign has failed to gain traction.
