WE Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told President Joe Biden at a meeting Saturday that it would be better for the country and the Democratic Party if he ended his re-election campaign, ABC News reported Wednesday.
US House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has expressed similar views directly to Biden, ABC News reported, citing a source familiar with the conversation.
In a statement, Schumer's office called the report “idle speculation” and said Schumer “conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden on Saturday.”
ABC News said the one-on-one meeting took place at Biden's house in Rehoboth, Delaware.
“I sat down with President Biden this afternoon in Delaware; we had a good meeting,” Schumer said in a statement released Saturday.
“The president told both leaders that he is the party's nominee, that he plans to win, and that he looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100-day agenda to help working families,” the White House spokesman said, Andrew Bates, in a statement.
Other Democrats agree
Earlier Wednesday, Democratic U.S. Rep Adam Schiff he became the 20th congressional Democrat to publicly call for Biden to drop out of the race.
Democratic concern about the 81-year-old incumbent's ability to beat Republican challenger Trump, or serve four more years in office, grew after Biden's June 27 debate halt.