Despite President Joe Biden still insisting he is running, House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi said it is “up to the president” to decide whether to stay in the race, indicating the issue remains unresolved among leading Democrats and Congress.
“Time is running out and we’re all urging him to make a decision,” Pelosi said on MSNBC on Wednesday.
Pelosi’s comments are being widely seen as a signal of how Democratic leaders feel about Biden’s candidacy, and her comments will be seen as crucial to the party’s direction as it considers alternatives in its fight against Republican Donald Trump.
Her powerful position as a former House speaker and her proximity to Biden as a longtime and trusted ally of her generation means she is seen as one of the few Democratic leaders who could influence the president’s thinking.
Asked if she personally wanted Biden to run, she said, “I want him to do whatever he decides to do.”
President Joe Biden stressed he has no plans to withdraw from the race for the White House (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
Pelosi said Biden “has been a great president” and is loved and respected by House Democrats.
The California resident said she watched Trump deliver a powerful speech at the NATO summit on Tuesday and, with foreign leaders visiting Washington this week, urged Democrats to “hold back” on any announcements about Trump’s campaign.
“Tell someone privately what you’re thinking, but don’t bring it out until we know what the outcome will be this week,” she said.
Democrats have been wavering over whether to continue supporting Biden after his poor performance in last month’s presidential debate with Trump and his campaign’s lackluster response to Democratic calls for the 81-year-old to show voters he can serve another four-year term.
