Stephen Colbert mocks Nancy Pelosi's imprecise stance on Biden's candidacy, calls it ‘weapons-grade passive aggression’

Nancy Pelosi said it is up to Joe Biden to choose whether he'd to run for the 2024 presidential election
PUBLISHED JUL 12, 2024
Stephen Colbert criticized Nancy Pelosi's attempts to persuade Joe Biden to drop out of 2024 presidential race (Getty Images)
Stephen Colbert criticized Nancy Pelosi's attempts to persuade Joe Biden to drop out of 2024 presidential race (Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Stephen Colbert accused Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) of employing “weapons-grade passive aggression” in her subtle attempts to convince President Joe Biden to bow out of the upcoming election.

During 'The Late Show', Colbert aired a segment of the former House Speaker's interview with MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' in which she stated that it is up to Biden "to decide if he’s going to run” for the presidential race.

Stephen Colbert's critique of Nancy Pelosi's remarks

Nancy Pelosi's comments come two days after Joe Biden's letter to congressional Democrats to assert that he will be continuing his reelection campaign despite calls to quit the race and criticism over his capability to serve another four-year term following his disastrous debate performance on June 27.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06:  Stephen Colbert arrives for the Showtime Golden Globe Nominees Celebr
Stephen Colbert slammed Nancy Pelosi's cold response to Joe Biden's candidacy (Getty Images)

"We’re all encouraging him to make that decision. Because time is running short," said Pelosi.

“But he’s beloved, He is respected and people want him to make that decision, not me," she added.

After playing the clip of Pelosi's interview, Colbert commented, “That is some weapons-grade passive aggression."

Mounting pressure on Joe Biden's candidacy

Following Joe Biden's shaky debate performance in Atlanta where he lacked energy and stumbled throughout the event, several Democrats and supporters have expressed concerns over his age and mental fitness and asked him to step aside to allow another candidate as the party's nominee.

Pelosi has reportedly been actively working behind the scenes to put pressure on Biden to reconsider his reelection bid.

Although the former House Speaker has not explicitly called for his withdrawal from the campaign, several lawmakers have indicated that Pelosi has expressed doubts about Biden's ability to defeat Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reacts after signing the CHIPS Fo
Nancy Pelosi declined to offer a definitive endorsement for Joe Biden's 2024 election run (Getty Images)

Stephen Colbert doubles down on Chuck Schumer signaling openness to new leadership

Stephen Colbert then referenced an Axios report indicating that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been privately signaling to donors that he is open to new Democratic leadership.

While Schumer has reservations about Biden's chances of winning, he has told colleagues that the decision ultimately lies with Biden and that he does not want to undermine the 81-year-old commander-in-chief, according to The Hill.

So far, eighteen Democratic members of Congress have publicly called on Biden to drop out of the race with even high-profile celebrities and Democrat supporters like George Clooney and Ashley Judd urging the president to step aside.

“One guy who is not giving up on Joe Biden, is Joe Biden,” noted Colbert.

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