NEW YORK, NY – In July 2024, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer privately urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, according to The New York Times. Schumer reportedly told Biden,
“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,” Mr. Schumer said. “But worse – you go down in American history as one of the darkest figures. If I were you, I wouldn’t run, and I’m urging you not to run.”
This conversation, which occurred on July 13, was part of a broader effort among top Democrats to dissuade Biden from seeking reelection.
Senior Democratic leaders, including Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were concerned that Biden’s candidacy could lead to a Republican victory and potential losses in both the Senate and House. These fears were heightened by Biden’s declining approval ratings and his widely criticized performance during a CNN debate earlier in the month. According to Vanity Fair, these efforts were part of a coordinated strategy by top Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, to persuade Biden to prioritize the party’s chances over his own campaign.
Following growing pressure from Democratic leadership, Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race on July 21, 2024. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Biden’s decision was framed as a selfless act, with Schumer publicly praising him for putting the country and the Democratic Party ahead of personal ambition.
Schumer also insisted publicly that Biden’s mental acuity was not in question. He stated that Biden’s ability to make the decision on his own was a testament to his leadership and integrity. Schumer even said,
“We should all salute President Biden for stepping down because he made that decision on his own.”
However, these public statements conflict with the behind-the-scenes efforts described in the New York Times, where Schumer played a key role in privately urging Biden to step aside.
This contradiction helps highlight a recurring theme in Democrat politics, where private actions often diverge from public statements. While Schumer outwardly supported Biden’s mental sharpness and autonomy, his private conversations revealed series concerns about a likely Democrat loss if he has stayed in the race.
