President Joe Biden reportedly showed signs of frustration in a recent White House meeting after learning that his approval ratings in Michigan and Georgia have been declining due to his administration’s response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
These states, which played a critical role in his narrow victory four years ago, are crucial for his hopes of defeating former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election. During a January meeting with allies, Biden vocally expressed his discontent, using strong language, according to a lawmaker present.
Despite the political consequences, Biden reinforced his belief in the righteousness of his actions.
WATCH:
NBC reported:
For months, Democrats have watched the 2024 campaign unfold with rising alarm as the sitting president struggles to gain ground against his defeated predecessor. Frustrations rippling through the party have reached the top, with Biden at times second-guessing travel decisions and communications strategies that have left much of the electorate clueless about his record, interviews with nearly 20 lawmakers, present and past administration officials and Biden allies show…
Biden has long believed that he isn’t getting sufficient credit for an economy that has created 15 million new jobs. Looking to reach distracted voters who may be tuning in, he told his speechwriters before the State of the Union address to tone down some of the lofty rhetoric and plainly lay out what he’s done, a person familiar with speech preparations said.
During internal discussions, he’ll press aides about which parts of his record to highlight in different states, said a second person who is familiar with the matter.
Surrounded by protective aides who want to minimize the chances of a flub, the 81-year-old president has chafed at restraints that he sees as counter to his natural instincts as a retail politician, a third person familiar with internal discussions said.
He has felt cocooned at times and has been eager to get out more, meet voters face-to-face and take the fight directly to Trump, said the third person and a fourth also familiar with the matter who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss campaign strategy and the president’s private views.
There are signs that some within his party are also losing patience with him.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) said, “Biden stood up in front of the whole world and said, ‘I’m ready. I’m the guy who can take down Donald Trump.’” Smith continued, “So, he godd*mn well better do it. We don’t have time for him to be worried about whether or not people are saying things right or the poll numbers are where they should be. I want focused energy and not defensive anger.”
On several occasions, Biden has expressed his frustration towards his close circle of senior advisors according to NBC. Sources indicate he is vexed by the challenge of his accomplishments not resonating with the wider voting public.
While some suggest he should quicken his pace to counteract perceptions of being too old, concerns about his safety have led to adjustments in how he boards Air Force One. Opting for a shorter staircase through the plane’s belly, Biden bypasses the traditional, more visible ascent, which often features the president waving from atop the stairs.
The shift is indicative of the administration’s efforts to balance image with practical safety measures. “He’s probably a little mad at himself for not being more forceful with the staff,” revealed another individual privy to internal conversations
“The man’s been successful for decades in Congress and became vice president and president,” another source told the outlet, advocating for a hands-off approach to Biden’s public persona. “If you try to change the person, you’re making a mistake. Let the president go out there and do his thing,” they said.