President Biden is scheduled to meet virtually with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Monday evening amid growing calls from Democrats for the party’s presumptive nominee to step down.
In a statement, his campaign said Biden would speak to CBC members on the call “about the importance of the 2024 election and our shared determination to defeat Donald Trump this November.”
Biden will be making remarks during the conference call and taking questions from CBC members, the campaign added.
The meeting came as Biden’s campaign seeks to quell growing discontent over placing him at the top of the shortlist and continues to deal with the fallout from Biden’s dismal performance in the debate.
At least six House Democrats have publicly called on Biden to step down, including Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who became the longest-serving Democrat to announce his retirement on Monday afternoon. Smith is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
Other House Democrats have reportedly privately expressed similar views.
Amid growing public skepticism, many CBC members have emerged as the president’s staunchest supporters.
CBC Chairman, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) A statement was issued “I am the nominee, elected by millions of voters across this country, including voters here in Nevada,” Biden said Monday morning.
“They know that President Biden and Vice President Harris are fighting for them. Like me, they don’t want Donald Trump back in the White House and are ready to work and vote to stop that from happening,” he continued. “We’re not going back. We’re moving forward.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee and former chairman of the Jan. 6 select committee, similarly reaffirmed his support for Biden.
“Let me be clear: as a Democratic leader in the US House of Representatives, I fully support the President and Vice President, and we will defeat Trump again! #SupportBiden #SupportBidenHarris.” Thompson writes: Later on social platform X to add“United we stand, divided we fall!”
Former CBC president and Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) also voiced her support for Biden, saying, “The choice for American leadership and democracy is clear.”
“Joe Biden! @JoeBiden has done more for our country and democracy than House Republicans and the convicted criminals and insurrectionists they warmly embrace. I put people over politics. I’m with Team Biden-Harris,” she continued.
Biden and his campaign have maintained that he has no plans to withdraw from the race. In an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Monday, Biden called on other Democrats to challenge him at their national conventions this summer and stressed that he believes he is the best candidate to beat Trump.
