Democrat “squad” member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lashed out at a Congressional colleague, saying he should “absolutely retire.” The “senior Democrat,” who has not been identified, reportedly told journalists that the party is resigned to another four years of Donald Trump’s leadership, prompting fury from the New York Rep. She called on the anonymous lawmaker to step aside and “make space for true leadership that refuses to resign themselves to fascism.”
Media reports indicate a shift in focus among the Democrat senior ranks as lawmakers feared for their safety in the wake of the Trump assassination attempt. In the hours before the Pennsylvania shooting, President Biden met with Democrats in Washington in a meeting that some described as disastrous due to Biden’s combative stance and refusal to entertain standing aside for another candidate.
The President also met with Senate Leader Chuck Schumer – an encounter described as “good” by Mr. Schumer. The two men had not talked since Biden’s poor performance against Donald Trump at the first Presidential debate in Atlanta, and they met amid rumors that Schumer is open to selecting a new Democrat candidate to stand against Trump in November.
Some observers say the Trump assassination attempt has taken the heat off the President as Democrats consider it inappropriate to criticize Biden at such a delicate time. Therefore, Schumer publicly continues to insist he is loyal to Joe Biden.
Before the assassination attempt, calls for Biden to stand down were increasing among Democrats, but insiders say everything changed. President Biden took a Presidential tone in the immediate aftermath and called for national unity. His campaign team ceased operations, and staffers were told not to use social media or comment publicly on the election. Anonymous insiders told reporters that Biden’s response to the Pennsylvania shooting indicated that he intends to carry on. “It’s likely the effort to dislodge Biden has ended,” an unnamed ally said, adding, “Biden demonstrated he’s going to fight.”
