Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) acknowledged Sunday that he has doubts about whether President Biden can beat former President Trump, following Biden’s lackluster performance in a debate late last month.
In an interview on “Meet the Press,” Schiff praised Biden’s performance as president, but told NBC News host Kristen Welker that Biden’s age is a major factor weighing on his chances and that he should seriously consider whether running is his best option.
“But I think his performance on the debate stage rightly raised questions among the American people about whether he has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump,” Schiff, who is running for Senate, told Welker.
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Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told “Meet the Press” that President Biden’s debate performance raised questions about his ability to win reelection.
Schiff is the latest Democrat to question whether Biden should seek reelection following his performance in the debate, which led many in the party and in the media to acknowledge that the president’s cognitive abilities are a significant weakness that could hinder his reelection bid.
Some of Schiff’s colleagues have called on Biden to end his reelection campaign, but Schiff does not support the move, arguing it is a decision for Biden to make.
“From what you’ve seen, do you still think he’s the favorite to beat former President Trump?” Welker asked the Democrats.
“Ultimately, this is a decision that President Biden must make alone,” Schiff responded, before continuing to praise the president’s accomplishments during his first year in office.
“But I will say this: He’s been an extraordinary president. He’s created millions of jobs. He’s expanded and strengthened the NATO alliance. He’s brought manufacturing back to this country. He’s launched the most aggressive attack on climate change. He’s accomplished more than most presidents accomplish in one term, regardless of how many terms they serve.”
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President Joe Biden walks off stage during the CNN presidential debate at CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Schiff added that the race “should never be even” given Biden’s record and Trump’s “terrible record”, but acknowledged that “the only reason it’s even is because of the president’s age”.
Schiff again refused to endorse whether Biden should continue in the campaign, saying the president should try to find the best answer for himself: maybe to withdraw, or maybe to continue.
“My advice to the president is to seek the opinions of people he can trust. He’s obviously spoken to his family about this, and that’s important, but he should seek people with some distance and objectivity. He should seek pollsters who are not his pollsters. He should take his time to make the most informed decision, and then when that decision is overturned, he should go all out and beat the shit out of that motherfucker.”
Welker again asked Schiff for his opinion on whether Biden could beat Trump, and Schiff reiterated that it was Biden’s decision and that he would make the best choice.
“I think if the president takes the time to consult with people and is open-minded about this, Joe Biden will make the best decision, as he always does,” he reiterated.
The White House and Biden campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on Schiff’s remarks.
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