Speaking on MSNBC, a show popular with liberals in Washington and New York, President Biden on Monday blasted Democratic “elites” who are trying to oust him from the 2024 presidential race. But some critics and media observers sympathetic to him don't believe it.
As Biden concluded a lengthy phone interview with “Morning Joe,” he forcefully declared he would stay in the presidential race in 2024, challenging skeptics of his party.
“I'm so frustrated with the elites,” he told MSNBC hosts and Biden supporters Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. “Now I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to the elites in the party. They know a lot more than you do. And if any of you think I shouldn't run, I want you to run against me. Go ahead and announce your candidacy for president and challenge me at the convention.”
At the start of the interview, Brzezinski listed the media, including The New York Times, The Economist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Boston Globe, that have called on Brzezinski to step down amid concerns about his ability to stand up to former President Trump. Some House Democrats have also called on Brzezinski not to seek reelection, as well as prominent liberals such as Tim Ryan, James Carville and David Axelrod.
“They're celebrities, but I don't care what they think!,” Biden said. “They were wrong in 2020! They were wrong in the Red Wave of 2022! They're wrong in 2024! Come out with me and see how people react. You be the judge!”
NBC's Chuck Todd noted that Biden won the Democratic nomination without a significant challenger and was skeptical of Biden's subsequent comments. Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota expressed concerns about Biden's age and health as part of the primary campaign, but did not pose any threat to the president's chances of winning the nomination.
“Biden's anger at the 'elites' is a bit misplaced,” Todd wrote on X. “Without the 'elites', he would have had a formidable opponent in the primaries. Without the 'elites', the No Labels movement would have had a compelling slate of candidates. Perhaps it is the 'elites' who put too much faith in Biden that has put the Democratic Party in this position.”
Fox News' David Latz contributed to this report.