A tearful Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reportedly had an emotional breakdown after meeting with President Joe Biden, where the two discussed the growing possibility that the Democratic ticket was on course for a historic loss in November.
Schumer, 74, met with Biden at the White House on July 13, just two days after President-elect Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, to address the grim reality facing Democrats. During the meeting, Schumer became the spokesperson for the party’s crisis, telling the then-81-year-old Biden that there was no longer any viable path for him to secure a second term. According to a Friday report by the New York Times, Schumer “broke down in tears” while recounting the meeting to his aides.
Their time together ended without a clear indication of Biden’s next steps, but Schumer told his confidants that he felt he had made an impact. “I need a week,” Biden told Schumer, according to the paper. Before they parted ways, Schumer cautioned Biden that he risked becoming one of America’s “darkest figures” if he continued with a faltering campaign and potentially facilitated Trump’s return. Schumer added that even if Biden had only a 50-50 chance of winning, he would have advised his friend to press on.
“Fifty-fifty, to do this, to stay here; it’s worth it,” he said. “But, Mr. President, you’re not getting the information as to what the chances are.” Biden went on to acknowledge he hadn’t talked recently with his pollsters about the state of the race. “Well, I have talked to them,” Schumer reportedly said. “My guess is you have about a 5 percent chance. None of your pollsters disagree with me.”
Biden, who in recent weeks has publicly suggested that he could have won if he had stayed in the race, interrupted Schumer twice to ask, “Do you really think Kamala can win?” The Senate leader responded that he was uncertain but believed the vice president had a much better chance than Biden. White House spokesman Andrew Bates commented on the revelation Friday, stating, “The president was fully briefed on campaign polling and fully briefed on his pollsters’ assessments. Internal and public numbers showed a competitive race.”
As they shuffled to Schumer’s waiting car, Biden put a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve got bigger balls than anyone I’ve ever met,” he said, telling Schumer he would “need a week” to make a final decision. Weeks earlier, several top Democrats gathered to watch Biden’s debate with Trump and were stunned by the president’s disastrous performance. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was among those who urged his colleagues to stay calm as a visibly struggling Biden faltered through his responses.