The same day President Joe Biden defiantly wrote in the two-page letter saying he would not step aside in the 2024 Presidential Election, he met virtually with the Congressional Black Caucus — one of his staunchest blocs of supporters in Congress — for 30 minutes.
Biden told the group about his policy proposals for a second term, expressed gratitude to members for their support and repeatedly criticized Trump according to Minnesota Fifth District Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL).
Omar, speaking to Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News, was clear in saying she wants Joe Biden to remain the party's nominee for president. Biden wrote in the two-page letter that “the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end.”
"He does have my support. As you know, we are talking about a president who is going to protect and expand democracy, and he is running against someone who is willing to dismantle and destroy our democracy and our way of life," Omar explained. "It is a clear choice for us in the Black Caucus, and for me specifically. Certainly, I think for a lot of Americans, who after the debate within 48 hours donated over $30 million in grassroots support."
The calls for Biden to step aside come after what is being widely described as a dismal performance by the president in the first debate against former President Donald Trump. Omar says one night shouldn't dissuade Democrats from supporting Biden though.
"For many of us, when we look back at that debate, we think of it as an anomaly, as one bad night," she told WCCO. "You know, he's been traveling across the country since then. He's had many conversations."
There have been a number of Democrats saying it's time for Biden to leave the race. That includes another member of the Minnesota Congressional delegation, Second District Rep. Angie Craig (DFL) who said, "I do not believe that the president can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump".
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar also released a statement saying the next week is "critical" to prove to the American people he can win the election. Omar says those comments come at a time when they need to be united behind Biden.
"To second guess the president, to second guess our ability to defeat Trump, I think that is misplaced," Omar said. "I think that those conversations could have been had long ago."
Omar said that in the unlikely event that Biden drops out, she would support Vice President Kamala Harris if she became the nominee for the White House. However, Omar also noted that calls for Biden to step down are misplaced.
Last week, Biden spent time with Democratic Governors, led by Minnesota's Tim Walz, who left that gathering in support of Biden as well.
Biden is also expected to meet this week with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said the chair of the House’s Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D- Washington).
Meanwhile, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had undergone three neurological exams while in the White House as part of his annual physical exams — and no more — and said the president has not been diagnosed with or treated for Parkinson’s.
The drama is playing out with just over a month until the Democratic National Convention and just a week before Republicans gather in Milwaukee to renominate Trump as their presidential pick.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., part of a newer generation of progressive lawmakers, said she backed Biden and expressed worry that Democrats were taking their eye off defeating Trump. “We’re losing the plot here,” she said.
Another prominent voice in the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Maxine Waters of California, said those opposing Biden “can speak for themselves or what they want to do, but I know what I’m doing because I’m a big Biden supporter.”
And Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, said: “I’m tired of all this speculation. I just want to concentrate on the fact that we have to defeat Trump.”
Trump, for his part, predicted that Biden would remain in the race. “It looks to me like he may very well stay in,” he told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity on Monday. “He’s got an ego and he doesn’t want to quit. He doesn’t want to do that.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who has publicly stood by Biden even as he weighs how to address the concerns of many in his conference, said “same answer” Monday after an evening meeting the Capitol when asked if he supported Biden.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.