A moderate House Democrat said President Biden’s term in the White House “must end” on Thursday, the most significant expression of opposition to Biden’s leadership by a member of his party yet.
Rep. Marie Grusenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), who had previously said she thought Biden would lose to Trump, has now become the 15th Democrat to call on the president not to seek reelection.
“Over the past two weeks, I have heard constituents express concerns about the president’s age and health,” she said in a statement. Local Outlet KGWNBC affiliate.
“The American people should feel that the president is fully capable of doing his job. The crisis of confidence in the president’s leadership needs to end. He should do what he knows is right for the country and put the national interest first.”
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Rep. Marie Grusenkamp Perez issued a strong statement Thursday in opposition to President Biden’s continued leadership. (Getty Images)
Grusenkamp Perez is one of the Democrats most vulnerable in this election, having frequently defected from her own party when it comes to voting.
Meanwhile, Biden is fighting for his political life following his crushing defeat in a debate with former President Trump at the end of last month.
Biden spoke in a husky voice that he blamed on a cold and stumbled over his answers multiple times during the primetime event. Viewers also noticed that he appeared tired and noticeably less agile than when he faced off against Trump in 2020.
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This has raised concerns among party members that he may lose to President Trump in November’s presidential election and be unable to serve another four years in office.
Gruzenkamp Perez told KATU after the debate, “About 50 million Americans turned on their TVs to watch the debate, and I was one of them, and I had about five very difficult minutes. We all saw what we saw, and we can’t undo that. And I think the truth is, Biden is going to lose to Trump.”
Rep. Marie Grusenkamp Perez is the latest Biden critic to come forward publicly. (Bill Clark)
Biden, meanwhile, has repeatedly said he has no intention of conceding.
Gruzenkamp Perez’s statement came just hours before Biden’s news conference scheduled for 6:30 pm ET, a pivotal moment for the president as he seeks to allay doubts that he may be physically and mentally unfit for the White House.
House Democrats left the Capitol around noon Thursday and returned to their districts for a week-long break.
Before that, lawmakers on the left spent a week in caucuses and small groups debating Biden’s path forward.
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President Biden and former President Trump held a debate at CNN studios in Atlanta on June 27, 2024. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, a Democrat who has announced his candidacy for president, told reporters early Thursday that he doesn’t think Biden will be a drag on weaker Democrats.
“The House Democrats are in discussions with the House Democrats at this time. Those discussions have been candid, calm and inclusive, which is important for us to do as a House Democratic caucus. And as long as those discussions continue, I will respect the sanctity of those discussions until that process is complete,” he said.
