JUST IN: Biden Meeting With Democrats Went Off The Rails, Included Direct Calls For Resignation

At 81, Joe Biden is the oldest sitting president in U.S. history. Still, his faltering performance during last month’s presidential debate came as a surprise to some Democrats, from senior White House insiders to long-time administration officials who engage with him privately.

On top of the president’s hardships, Biden’s Friday virtual meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus seemed to exacerbate tensions rather than alleviate them. According to reports, Biden arrived an hour late for the Zoom call, setting a frustrating tone for the discussion that followed.

Initially, meeting organizers stipulated that only two members, Representatives Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) and Lou Correa (D-CA), would be permitted to ask questions. However, in an unexpected move, Biden opened the floor to additional questions. The decision, intended to foster more open dialogue, came after the initial hiccup of his late arrival. A source told NOTUS that while the effort to include more voices was there, it did little to smooth over the lawmakers’ concerns.

According to the source, the campaign exerted strict control over who could participate in the call. Representatives Gabe Vasquez (D-TX) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-TX) attempted to engage by using the “raise hand” feature during the Zoom call, but were silenced when organizers lowered their hands, preventing them from speaking.

Among the few who were allowed to question Biden, Rep. Correa seized the opportunity to emphasize the expectations of Latino voters. He implored the president to “talk to these families and say to them, there is a pathway in my second administration for all of you that have been here for decades, that have followed the laws, that have paid taxes to be part of the American Dream,” as per a partial transcript of the call shared by NOTUS.

“I strongly agree with every word you just said, not a joke,” Biden said. “I’m being deadly earnest. We’re in a situation where, that’s why I used the executive action, for example, to make sure that over a million Latinos who are married to an American citizen are, get complete access to citizenship, and get — you get a green card now.”

Among the Democrats who managed to speak despite not being pre-selected was Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA). Levin made a bold statement, asserting that it was time for new leadership within the party and urging Biden to step down as the nominee. At the end of the call, Biden indicated he had time for one more question, but the meeting was abruptly concluded by the host, Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA). Despite this, Rep. Levin still made his voice heard.

Shortly after the call concluded, the congressman became the 19th Democratic member of Congress to publicly urge Biden to withdraw from the race. Democrats have expressed increasing concern about Biden’s performance, with a notable number within the party considering whether he should continue his candidacy.

Publicly, nearly two dozen Democratic Representatives and Senators have suggested Biden should step aside. On Wednesday, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) became the first Senator to publicly urged Biden to step out of the race.

Privately, reports indicate that scores of prominent House Democrats have shared with colleagues their opinion that Biden should end his run. Additionally, a rising number of influential donors and business leaders have escalated the pressure, some even threatening to withdraw financial support if he remains in the race.

(VOTE NOW: Is Biden Mentally Unfit To Serve As President?)