Public statement from Chuck Schumer or major news outlets like CNN, BBC, or The New York Times

Chuck Schumer Urges Biden to Withdraw from 2024 Race in Rehoboth Beach Meeting

Jan 17, 2025, 04:55 PM

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer played a pivotal role in persuading President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. According to reports, Schumer met with Biden at the president's Rehoboth Beach home on July 13, 2024, where he urged the president not to run for a second term. During their 45-minute conversation, Schumer's argument was based on concerns about Biden's electoral prospects against Donald Trump, warning that a loss could tarnish Biden's legacy after 50 years of public service. Schumer suggested that if Biden ran and lost to Trump, and Democrats lost control of the Senate and failed to regain the House, Biden would be remembered as one of the 'darkest figures' in American history. Schumer also informed Biden that his pollsters estimated he had about a 5 percent chance of winning. The conversation reportedly lasted about 45 minutes, with Biden asking twice if Vice President Kamala Harris could win the election. Following this meeting, Biden decided to end his campaign a week later.