Lawmakers and officials within the administration are beginning to show frustration with President Joe Biden’s position as the 2024 election approaches. According to a report by NBC News, Biden himself is starting to question some of his strategic decisions.
As the 2024 election draws nearer, Biden finds himself trailing former President Donald Trump in nearly every hypothetical matchup across key swing states.
NBC News conducted interviews revealing Biden’s growing apprehension about his reelection prospects, with other Democrats also expressing frustration with his performance.
Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) told NBC News, “Biden stood up in front of the whole world and said, ‘I’m ready. I’m the guy who can take down Donald Trump.’ So, he better do it. We don’t have time for him to be worried about whether or not people are saying things right or the poll numbers are where they should be. I want focused energy and not defensive anger.”
NBC highlighted that Biden’s current 38% approval rating is lower at this stage of his fourth year in office than the last three presidents who went on to lose reelection. Trump was at 48%, George H.W. Bush at 39%, and Jimmy Carter at 43%, according to Gallup survey data.
NBC reported on several instances of Biden’s frustration in meetings and privately, including one where he reportedly expressed anger over poll numbers in Michigan and Georgia, critical states for his 2024 victory.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told NBC News, “President Biden makes national security decisions based on the country’s national security needs alone — no other factor.”
Sources suggest that as Biden becomes increasingly frustrated with his reelection efforts, he has begun to vent his anger on his staff. He is reportedly disappointed that his emphasis on the economy and policy achievements hasn’t resonated with Americans as his approval ratings continue to decline.
Staff members have reportedly given conflicting advice to Biden on addressing concerns about his age, leading to private moments of self-doubt.
A source who previously worked in the Biden Administration told NBC, “If you try to change the person, you’re making a mistake. Let the president go out there and do his thing.”
Despite Biden’s struggles in the polls, Democrats agree that he needs a coalition of surrogates to help convey his reelection message. Democratic Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens emphasized the role of city and town leaders in highlighting Biden’s achievements.
Mary Landrieu, a former Democratic senator from Louisiana, expressed her belief that the White House needs to better communicate Biden’s successes, especially regarding America’s high-tech manufacturing efforts.
