Schumer ‘Broke Down In Tears’ After Telling Biden To Drop Out Of Race: Report
Democratic Senate leader Charles Schumer was reportedly moved to tears following a meeting with President Joe Biden last summer, where he conveyed the serious likelihood of Biden losing the presidential election.
“It was July 13, 2024, a humid summer afternoon just before four o’clock, and Mr. Schumer, the Democratic leader of the Senate, was about to make a blunt case to Mr. Biden that he needed to drop his bid for a second term,” The New York Times reported.
“If you run and you lose to Trump, and we lose the Senate, and we don’t get back the House, that 50 years of amazing, beautiful work goes out the window,” Schumer reportedly told Biden. “But worse — you go down in American history as one of the darkest figures.”
Schumer also advised the president, saying, “If I were you, I wouldn’t run, and I’m urging you not to run,” according to The Times.
The challenge for Schumer stemmed from his belief that Biden’s known stubbornness could lead him to resist more firmly if pressured, as described in the newly released book, Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man With Rats in His Walls Broke Congress.
The book claims that Schumer hesitated for a considerable time before confronting Biden, which subsequently limited the Democrats’ ability to organize a serious primary effort to replace him.
By that point, Schumer had already spent months grappling with Biden’s plummeting poll numbers, which highlighted concerns about his age and mental acuity among voters. The tipping point came after Biden’s debate performance against former President Trump in late June.
“So when Mr. Biden bombed during his June 27 debate with Mr. Trump, Mr. Schumer regarded it as something of a gift, a forcing mechanism to start an overdue discussion about the president’s political viability,” The Times explained.
“That night, about two dozen House Democrats, including Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the minority leader, gathered for a watch party in the community room of the Washington waterfront luxury apartment complex where Mr. Jeffries and many of them lived, known as ‘the dorm.’ But the festive atmosphere dissipated immediately after Mr. Biden, pale and hoarse, shuffled onto the stage in Atlanta and began stumbling through his answers. By the end of the 90-minute debate, those who had been able to bear sticking around were in a panic,” the report continued.
Jeffries, known for his motto, “Calm is an intentional decision,” worked to maintain composure. However, as his colleagues voiced their concerns about Biden’s ability to lead the ticket, he admitted to feeling alarmed. “We’ve got to process it all, see where we’re at tomorrow morning, and we’ll come up with a game plan,” Jeffries said following the debate.
When Schumer finally met with Biden, he tried to emphasize how dire the situation had become. He assured the president that if he had even a 50/50 chance of beating Trump, he would support him remaining in the race. “Fifty-fifty, to do this, to stay here; it’s worth it,” Schumer reportedly said. “But, Mr. President, you’re not getting the information as to what the chances are.”
Biden admitted during the conversation that he had not recently consulted his pollsters, prompting Schumer to share his findings. “Well, I have talked to them,” Schumer said. “My guess is you have about a 5 percent chance. None of your pollsters disagree with me.”
Biden asked for a week to decide on whether to continue his campaign or step aside. At the end of their exchange, Biden reportedly told Schumer, “You’ve got bigger balls than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Following the meeting, Schumer allegedly “broke down in tears” as he recounted the conversation to his staff, The Times reported.