Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed frustration when a reporter asked her about President Joe Biden’s future, even as she acknowledged she believes Biden can win.
“With all due respect, I’m not talking to you or anybody else about what I’m talking about with the president,” Pelosi told ABC. Senior Congressional Correspondent As I was walking down the hallway, I saw Rachel Scott.
“Do you believe that,” the reporter said, with Pelosi interrupting. “I never believe that.”
“Do you believe he waited that long?” the reporter continued, but Pelosi, visibly upset, said she couldn’t comment on “the fate of our country” in the hallway.
Asked if she was worried about whether Biden could win the November election, Pelosi said she believed he could, but when pressed by a reporter, she stopped short and shouted: “Am I speaking to you in English? I’m not going to make any statements about that in the hallway right now.”
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Speaker Pelosi says Biden can win
She says she won’t comment on “the fate of our country” in the hallway
Asked if Biden should run, she said:
“Am I speaking to you in English? I’m not going to say anything about that in the hallway right now.” pic.twitter.com/8R1KsTuTc0
— Rachel Scott (@rachelvscott) July 10, 2024
After Biden’s poor debate performance, Pelosi made it clear that she would no longer explicitly endorse Biden. For example, just days after Biden’s debate performance, Pelosi said on MSNBC Andrea Mitchell ReportSo she said it’s a “legitimate question” to ask whether Biden’s debate performance was an episode or a symptom.
Before making those remarks, Pelosi touted her experience with Biden and claimed he saved the country with the relief package.
“He worked beautifully with the writing and passing of all these documents. He has the vision. He has the knowledge. He has the judgment. He has the strategic thinking and so on. Tonight was a disaster for him,” Pelosi said.
“Again, I think it’s a legitimate question to ask: is this an episode or is this a symptom?” she continued, before softening the blow by adding that it was a legitimate question to ask “both candidates.”
RELATED — Pelosi: It’s “legitimate” to ask if Biden debate was an episode or a condition
Following that remark, the president called the former speaker in the apparent hope of securing Biden’s support to continue his campaign amid growing panic among Democrats after Pelosi treaded cautiously and refused to explicitly endorse Biden going forward.
Pelosi has since It caused a stir “It’s the president’s decision whether or not to run,” he told MSNBC this week.
“Time is running out and we’re all encouraging him to make that decision,” she said.
“I think there is overwhelming support from our caucus. This is not for me to say. I no longer represent our caucus. But Mr. Biden is loved and respected and people want him to make decisions,” Pelosi said, adding that they want Biden “to do whatever he sets his mind to.”
“Whatever decision he makes, we will abide by it. I think that’s really important and I hope you all agree with me. Leave him in charge of this NATO meeting. This is very important,” she said, explaining that she had urged her colleagues to hold off on any decision until after the NATO meeting.
“I don’t have to bring it out until I tell somebody privately or see how this week plays out, but I’m very proud of the president,” she said of Biden, who has made it clear he has no plans to resign.
This morning, I sent a letter to my Democratic colleagues in Congress in which I shared my thoughts about this moment in the campaign.
Now is the time to come together, move forward as a united party, and defeat Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/ABtAaJrr0n
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2024
