CNN’s Jake Tapper opened Monday’s edition of The Lead with a sharp rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s recent comments, in which he claimed that “elites” – and not ordinary voters – are pushing for a different Democratic nominee at next month’s convention.
The Biden campaign is currently in turmoil following his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. The fallout has been swift, with some Democratic lawmakers urging Biden to step aside. Even longtime allies have publicly expressed concerns about his ability to effectively campaign against Trump and prevent his return to the White House.
To address these fears, Biden has engaged in a series of media appearances, including a sit-down interview with ABC News and multiple call-in interviews. However, as Tapper noted in his monologue, these efforts have not gone smoothly.
“Earlier today, President Biden called into one of his favorite TV shows – Morning Joe on MSNBC – and he railed against what he called ‘the elites,’” Tapper said before airing a clip of Biden’s interview.
“I’m getting so frustrated by the elites,” the president said. “Now, I’m not talking about you guys, but about the elites in the party.”
Tapper then aired another clip from Biden’s interview with Morning Joe and read the president’s comments back verbatim. He also played a snippet of Biden’s interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, highlighting the president’s struggles to communicate effectively.
“He’s proud to be the first Black woman? Not coherent,” Tapper remarked incredulously. He also revealed that the White House had sent questions to a radio host in advance, yet Biden still failed to deliver coherent answers.
Despite Biden’s attempts to reassure his supporters and the Democratic Party, the calls for a new nominee have not subsided. The president’s gaffes and perceived inability to articulate a strong case against Trump have only intensified the scrutiny on his campaign.
The growing discontent among Democrats is not just limited to high-ranking officials. Grassroots supporters and rank-and-file voters are also expressing doubts about Biden’s viability as the party’s nominee. This mounting pressure is creating a precarious situation for the Democratic Party as they approach their convention.
In his concluding remarks, Tapper emphasized the significance of these concerns, noting that they reflect deeper anxieties about Biden’s leadership and the party’s future. As the Democratic convention draws nearer, the debate over Biden’s candidacy is likely to escalate, with potential implications for the 2024 election.
The coming weeks will be crucial for Biden and the Democratic Party as they navigate this internal crisis and strive to present a united front against Trump and the Republican Party.