'Knives out for sleepy Joe': Biden trolled as four senior House Dems, including Jerry Nadler, call for prez to withdraw from 2024 race

WASHINGTON, DC: Several senior House Democrats reportedly believe President Joe Biden should end his reelection campaign following his recent debate performance. The sentiment was shared during a Zoom meeting on Sunday, July 7, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Representatives Jerry Nadler of New York, Mark Takano of California, Adam Smith of Washington, and Joe Morelle of New York were among those advocating for Biden to step aside, multiple sources told CBS News, including a person on the call and three others familiar with the discussion.

Growing skepticism among House Democrats

In addition to the four representatives, Reps Jim Himes of Connecticut, Don Beyer of Virginia, and Jamie Raskin of Maryland also voiced doubts about the president's chances in the upcoming election. Despite this, Beyer's office later reiterated his support for Biden, and Beyer himself issued a statement affirming his commitment to the Biden-Harris ticket.

"I support the Biden-Harris ticket, and look forward to helping defeat Donald Trump in November," Beyer said. "I was proud to host an event this week in Northern Virginia with the President, and will continue doing all I can to support the Biden-Harris campaign in Virginia and across the country."  

CBS News reached out to all members who sources claimed had voiced reservations about Biden's campaign. A spokesperson for Jeffries declined to comment on the call. However, Rep Susan Wild of Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District issued a statement reflecting the concerns many Americans have about Biden's electability.

"It is not helpful to the country for this difficult process to play out amidst leaks and rumors," Wild said. "The Democratic Caucus in Congress is a very diverse group, and there are many opinions about what should next happen. For that reason, I've always felt it important that people are able to speak their minds in a confidential setting, so that we can all benefit from what others are thinking. In the coming days and weeks, I will operate as I always have, continuing to have these important conversations while keeping the best interests of my constituents at the forefront of every decision and statement I make."

Rep Richard Neal of Massachusetts defended Biden's candidacy, citing his victory over Trump in 2020 and his record of success.

Neal's statement read, "The bottom line is President Biden beat Trump in 2020, and now, bolstered by his historic record of success, he'll do it again in November. Trump is a lying, convicted felon who has only ever been out for himself, and the American people know that. As I shared earlier, Republicans are the biggest threat to the health of our democracy, our economy, and the people, and the President knows what's at stake. I'm with him all the way, fighting like hell to defeat those threats."

Calls for withdrawal and Joe Biden's defiance

The call on Sunday followed a previous meeting of House Democratic leaders, where concerns about Biden's candidacy were discussed. The meeting came amidst a growing number of Democratic lawmakers publicly calling for Biden to step aside.

On Saturday, Rep Angie Craig of Minnesota, who represents a frontline district, became the latest Democrat to join this chorus. As Congress returns from recess, attention will be focused on Biden's support within the legislative body.

Despite the mounting pressure, Biden has remained resolute in his decision to continue his campaign. In an interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, Biden dismissed the notion of stepping down even if party leaders in Congress called for it.

"They're not going to do that," he said. He mentioned his ongoing conversations with Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as a recent meeting at the White House with Democratic governors.

Biden's defiance was further underscored by his remark, "If the Lord almighty came down and said 'Joe, get out of the race,' I'd get out of the race. The Lord almighty's not coming down."

Sen Mark Warner of Virginia has been engaging in discussions with Democratic colleagues to explore ways to persuade Biden to withdraw from the race. According to a senator who was contacted by Warner, there were no formal plans yet, but the conversations indicated a growing concern within the party about Biden's electability.

Joe Biden trolled on social media

The discussion about Biden's potential withdrawal has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media.

"Knives out for sleepy Joe," one posted on X.

"They are bailing on him," another wrote.

"You know it’s bad if the Penguin (Nadler) wants him to pull out," read a comment.

"Just remember, they all knew his mental deficiencies before the primary and they allowed millions to vote for him. Now they're going to ditch him," someone else chimed in.

"Biden can’t win and there’s no one better in the bullpen," another remarked.

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