AOC Backs Biden Amid Growing Calls for Him to Drop Out: ‘He Is in This Race and I Support Him’
X/@KevinFreyTV
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) came out in support of President Joe Biden on Monday amid growing calls in the Democratic Party for Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
“I have spoken to the president over the weekend. I have spoken with him extensively,” Ocasio-Cortez told a group of reporters on Capitol Hill:
He made clear then and he has made clear since that he is in this race. The matter is closed. He has reiterated that this morning, he has reiterated that to the public. Joe Biden is our nominee, he is not leaving this race, he is in this race, and I support him. Now, what I think is critically important right now is that we focus on what it takes to win in November because he is running against Donald Trump, who is a man with 34 felony convictions, that has committed 34 felony crimes, and not a single Republican has asked Donald Trump to not be the nominee.
The congresswoman went on to say that she had “communicated” with Biden that in order to win the election, the White House and Democrats would have to “pivot and increasingly commit to the issues that are critically important to working people across this country,” such as Medicare, social security, and rent relief.
Rep. @AOC says she spoke to Biden over the weekend.
“He is in this race and I support him,” she says.
“What is critically important right now is that we focus on what it takes to win in November … he is running against Donald Trump, who is a man with 34 felony convictions.” pic.twitter.com/8rORwrhPC0
— Kevin Frey (@KevinFreyTV) July 8, 2024
“And if we can do that and continue our work on student loans, secure a ceasefire, and bring those dollars back into investing in public policy, then that’s how we win in November. That’s what I’m committed to,” she said.
Asked what she would say to Democrats who are not yet convinced of Biden’s capabilities, Ocasio-Cortez replied, “That is all up to their own individual, you know, determination. I respect everyone’s opinion. But I’m here to make sure we win in November.”
Several prominent Democrats urged Biden to drop out of the race following his disastrous performance in CNN’s first presidential debate, including Obama administration HUD Secretary Julián Castro, who warned Biden would be “very likely to lose to Trump, one of the weakest candidates in presidential history,” in 2024.
Democratic donors have also called for “DEMbargo” on donations to the party until Biden is replaced, with Disney heiress Abigail Disney warning, “If Biden does not step down the Democrats will lose. Of that I am absolutely certain. The consequences for the loss will be genuinely dire.”
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