Hakeem Jeffries Plans to Convey House Democrat Concerns to President Biden by Friday

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is set to communicate the mounting apprehensions of his caucus regarding President Biden's campaign directly to the president himself, a Jeffries aide verified. The aide, when pressed for details on the how and when, only disclosed that the communication would take place "by Friday."

The Approach Plan

Upon leaving the House floor on Wednesday, Jeffries stated, "We are continuing to have candid and clear-eyed conversations with the House Democratic Caucus throughout the week, and that is the focus of our activity today, tomorrow, and we'll see where we go from there." The initial report of Jeffries' intention to engage with the president was made by Politico.

Increasing Dissent

Jeffries's initiative comes in the wake of a growing number of House Democrats publicly urging Mr. Biden to step back from his position in the upcoming election. The count has now reached eight, with the recent addition of Rep. Pat Ryan from New York, who explicitly stated that he is "asking Joe Biden to step aside" in order to "deliver on his promise to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders."

Jeffries characterized his discussions with colleagues as "a family discussion," and in response to a question about Mr. Biden's inclusion in that family, he asserted, "We are a separate and co-equal branch of government. We have the right and the responsibility on behalf of all the people that we represent, to have these discussions with ourselves about the path forward in the best interests of the American people."

Timing of the Conversations

There is a sense of urgency to conclude the conversations this week, as House members are scheduled to be in their districts and traveling next week. Despite this, there is no plan for top Biden advisers to meet with House Democrats. On the other hand, senators are expected to be briefed by them on Thursday. Nonetheless, Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal expressed her anticipation of a meeting with Biden for her group and is hopeful of receiving details this week regarding the schedule.

Additionally, the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Rep. Judy Chu, revealed that her group has sought a meeting or call with the president, similar to the ones he participated in with the Congressional Black Caucus and is likely to engage in with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. As of now, they have not received a response to their request.

President's Stance and Party Response

Despite the president's assertion in a letter to congressional Democrats this week that he is "firmly committed" to running, there are still lingering suggestions among some Democrats in Congress that he is facing a decision about continuing his campaign, leaving his future on the ticket open to question. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when probed on whether he has her support to lead the ticket, deferred to Mr. Biden, emphasizing that "it's up to the president" to decide if he will run. She further commented that "time is running short," while urging him to make a prompt decision.

On a broader scope

Reverberations of this development have extended beyond party lines, with notable public figures also weighing in on the unfolding situation. Actor and activist George Clooney has publicly urged Biden to forgo his 2024 presidential race. The sentiments expressed by top Democrats cast further uncertainties on Biden's political trajectory, particularly as the 2024 election looms on the horizon.