Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) avoided directly addressing whether he personally urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race during a recent appearance on CBS News. In an interview with Face the Nation’s Robert Costa, Schumer was asked about his meeting with Biden on July 13, which has been reported to involve discussions about Biden’s presidential campaign.
Costa specifically inquired whether Schumer suggested to Biden that he should exit the race during their meeting. Schumer responded by highlighting Biden’s accomplishments and praising his presidency, including the infrastructure bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, prescription drug reforms, and veterans’ support. Schumer avoided addressing the specific nature of their private conversation.
When pressed again about the intention behind the meeting, Schumer reiterated his respect for Biden’s achievements and avoided disclosing any details about their discussion. He stated, “I’m not going to get into the specifics,” and continued to emphasize Biden’s positive impact on the country.
Politico reported that Schumer traveled to Delaware to express concerns about Biden’s chances in the upcoming election and to discuss potential Democratic losses in November. The same outlet mentioned that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also conveyed similar concerns to Biden before the President announced he would not seek a second term and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
