Pelosi Makes ‘Earth Shaking’ Comments On Biden Drop Out Decision

Rep. Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday urged fellow Democrats and President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign to consider that “time is running short” regarding his decision to stay in the race, though she stopped short of calling for him to withdraw.

During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Pelosi was questioned about her continued support for Biden’s reelection bid amidst growing calls from Democrats for him to drop out following a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month.

“So, Madam Speaker, you just went through the president’s record, but let me ask you about the current moment. Does he have your support to be the head of the Democrats?” co-host Jonathan Lemire asked.

“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. I think overwhelming support of the caucus — it’s not for me to say, I’m not the head of the caucus anymore — but he’s beloved, he is respected, and people want him to make that decision,” Pelosi responded.

Lemire pressed further, reminding Pelosi that Biden had firmly stated on Monday his intention to stay in the race.

“He has said he has made the decision. He has said firmly this week he is going to run. Do you want him to run?” he asked.

“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. “I think it’s really important and I would hope everyone would join in.

“Let him deal with this NATO conference. This is a very big deal. Thirty heads of — over 30 heads of state are here. He is the host of it, and that means not just hosting, it means orchestrating the discussion and setting the agenda,” Pelosi continued. “And he’s doing so magnificently. And I’ve said to everyone, let’s just hold off whatever you’re thinking. Either tell somebody privately, but you don’t have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week. But I’m very proud of the president.”

Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News and NBC News described Pelosi’s comments as “earth shaking” and “hardly an endorsement” of Biden's second-term bid.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has often been to Biden’s left on several issues, also addressed the situation but did not support calls for him to withdraw from the race.

Speaking to reporters on Monday evening, Bronx-born Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed concerns about President Biden’s health and mental acuity. She reaffirmed her support for him as the party’s nominee, mentioning a recent conversation with the president.

“I have spoken with him extensively. He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed. He had reiterated that this morning. He has reiterated that to the public. Joe Biden is our nominee. He is not leaving this race. He is our nominee, and I support him,” she stated firmly before turning her focus to former President Donald Trump.

“What I think is critically important right now is that we focus on what it takes to win in November, because he is running against Donald Trump, who is a man with 34 felony convictions that has committed 34 felony crimes, and not a single Republican has asked for Donald Trump to not be the nominee,” she said.

“I’m here to win on this democracy, I’m here to win in November, and what’s critically important is what I believe the president needs to do… in order to make sure that we win in November… that is making sure that we pivot and working and increasingly commit to the issues that are critically important to working people across this country,” she concluded.