Democratic Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has cast doubt on President Biden’s declarations that he will not drop out of the presidential race, implying that a decision may still be pending regarding his re-election bid.
Despite Biden’s firm statements to the contrary, Pelosi indicated that the president’s decision is not final. Biden recently wrote a letter to congressional Democrats, asserting his commitment to the race, stating he is “firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.”
Pelosi, however, hinted that Biden might still be weighing his options as pressure mounts from within the Democratic Party. “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We are all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short,” Pelosi told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday when asked if she supports his re-election bid. She added that Biden is “beloved, he’s respected, and people want him to make that decision.”
When pressed further on whether she wants Biden to run this fall, Pelosi reiterated her stance that the decision lies with the president. “I want him to do whatever he decides to do. And that’s the way it is. Whatever he decides, we go with,” she said, via NBC News.
In response to whether Biden has truly made up his mind despite his public statements, a spokesperson for Pelosi told Fox News Digital that she supports Biden regardless of his decision. “Speaker Pelosi fully supports whatever President Biden decides to do. We must turn our attention to why this race is so important: Donald Trump would be a disaster for our country and our democracy,” the spokesperson stated.
Pelosi also displayed frustration when asked about Biden’s re-election plans during an encounter with reporters. “I’m not having any discussions with you, or anyone else, about what I talk to the president about, with all due respect,” she told an ABC News reporter. “I’m not going to be making any comments today, in the hallway, about the fate of our nation, okay?”, told Sky News.
The congresswoman’s irritation grew when questioned again about Biden’s potential candidacy. “Am I speaking English to you? I’m not going to be making any statements about any of that right now in the hallway,” Pelosi said.
President Biden has made several efforts to quell concerns over his re-election intentions, particularly after his performance at the first presidential debate. He has reiterated multiple times that he is “not going anywhere.” Nonetheless, doubts about his viability as a candidate have increased within the party, especially after eight House Democrats recently urged him to reconsider his bid for a second term.