Chuck Schumer warns Biden his candidacy hurts Democrats: reports

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in individual private meetings with President Joe Biden last week told the president that his continued candidacy puts Democrats in danger of losing control of either chamber in Congress, according to news reports.

The concerns were expressed by Jeffries, who met with Biden on Thursday at the White House, and Schumer, who met with Biden on Saturday in Rehoboth Beach, Del., the Washington Post reported. 

Schumer outlined a grim view for Democrats, where he showed the president polling and discussed the Democratic Party, Politico reported. Schumer also forcefully made the case that it would be better for the Democratic Party for Biden to bow out of the election, according to a report from ABC News.

Schumer’s spokesperson did not outrightly deny ABC News’ report.

“Unless ABC’s source is Senator Chuck Schumer or President Joe Biden the reporting is idle speculation. Leader Schumer conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden on Saturday,” Schumer’s spokesperson said in a statement.

The White House said Biden told the leaders that he is the Democratic presidential nominee and plans to win the 2024 election against former President Donald Trump.

“The President told both leaders he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win, and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100 days agenda to help working families,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement. 

Biden is facing increased pressure from some Democrats to step aside in the 2024 presidential election due to concerns over the president’s ability to beat Trump and whether he will hurt Democratic congressional candidates.

On Wednesday, the Democratic National Committee said Wednesday it will hold off on an accelerated virtual roll-call vote this month to confirm Biden as their presidential nominee. The move came after House Democrats who want to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee had circulated a draft letter Tuesday demanding that the DNC scrap plans for an expedited nomination vote.

Despite the calls to step aside, Biden has remained defiant. He has repeatedly said he will stay in the race.

Biden in an interview with BET on Tuesday said he would consider dropping out only "if I had some medical condition that emerged, if the doctors came to me and said you got this problem or that problem."

Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

“He is vaccinated and boosted, and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.