WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden began trying to put a stamp on a crucial week for his candidacy growing criticism by fellow Democrats who want him out of the race.
Calling into MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Monday, the president said voters chose him and dared Democratic critics who want to challenge him at the party’s August convention.
“The elite in the party annoys me a lot. … They know more,” Biden quipped. “If any of these guys don’t think I should run, run against me. Continue. Announce for the presidency – challenge me at the congress!”
In a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday, Biden said he was “not blind” to concerns within his party about his re-election bid, saying he did it “in good faith” that he allowed some.
“I would not be running again if I did not absolutely believe that I was the best person to defeat Donald Trump in 2024,” Biden wrote. “We had a Democratic nominating process and the voters spoke clearly and decisively.”
“The voters — and only the voters — decide the nominee of the Democratic Party,” he said.
“The question of how to move forward has sounded good for over a week now. And it’s time to finish. We have a job. This is to defeat Donald Trump,” Biden wrote. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the taskmaster only helps Trump and hurts us.”
A senior Democratic aide confirmed Monday that both houses of Congress had received the letter, which came back from recess for the first time since the June 27 Biden-Trump debate in Atlanta. Biden also published the full letter. On Instagram.
Biden is expected to call more lawmakers this week after contacting 20 last week, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. and Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and James E. Clyburn, D-Calif., — to reassure Democrats that their concerns are being heard by him, according to a campaign official.
On “Morning Joe,” Biden said he was unfazed when given a list of prominent Democrats urging him to drop out.
“I don’t care what these big names are thinking,” Biden said. “They made a mistake in 2020. They were wrong about the red tide in 2022. They are wrong in 2024.”
“I’m not giving up,” Biden said.
Biden also filed a lawsuit against Trump. He said that the United States will defeat the extreme right, as it did in the last French elections.
“This is a guy who is an extreme candidate. I can’t think of a more extreme candidate in my lifetime,” the president said. “He makes George Wallace look like a patriot.”
Rebecca Shabad contributed.