U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to the press at the White House after meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on funding the government and avoiding a shutdown in Washington, U.S. on February 27, 2024 .
Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images
The leader of the House Democratic caucus said Friday he met with President Joe Biden to share views from his caucus on “the way forward,” an apparent reference to Biden’s status as the party’s presidential nominee. .
The meeting Thursday night between House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Biden followed a rare news conference by the president, who at that event insisted he would remain in the race against the presumptive nominee. of Republican Donald Trump.
Jeffries earlier Thursday said he intended to poll all members of the caucus about their feelings about keeping Biden as the party’s nominee.
In a letter Friday to his caucus, Jeffries said that in his meeting with Biden, he “expressed the full range of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the way forward that the Caucus has shared with us recently ».
As of Friday morning, 18 House Democrats and one Democratic senator have publicly called on Biden to drop out of the race, allowing another member of the party to take his place as the nominee.
Biden did not return to the White House from the NATO summit where he gave the press conference before 9 p.m. ET Thursday, meaning his meeting with Jeffries likely didn’t start until later that night. The timing underscores the urgency with which House Democrats view Biden’s political situation.
Asked about the meeting Friday morning on MSNBC, Biden campaign aide Quentin Fulks said: “The President and the leader had a very good conversation, a meaningful conversation, as the president had with members on the Hill, governors and mayors and elected officials across this country last week.”
Fulks did not elaborate, but added: “I know it was important for the president to connect with Leader Jeffries and so I’ll just have to let that go.”
Jeffries wrote in his letter: “In recent days, House Democrats have engaged in a thoughtful and extensive debate about the future of our country at a time when the freedom, democracy and economic well-being of everyday Americans are at stake. Our speech was honest, clear and comprehensive.”
“On behalf of the House Democratic Caucus, I requested and was graciously granted a private meeting with President Joe Biden,” Jeffries wrote. “In my conversation with President Biden, I expressed directly the full range of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the way forward that Kukoma has shared with us in recent years.
“As House Democrats have done throughout this Congress, we will continue to work in the best interests of everyday Americans,” the leader wrote. “Thank you for your continued leadership in serving the communities we are privileged to represent.”
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
