Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) dismissed speculation surrounding comments made by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) about whether President Biden should step down.
Coons, a close Biden ally, joined CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday evening to discuss the president’s political future, even as concerns remain nearly two weeks after his lackluster debate performance.
Earlier Wednesday, Pelosi said it was up to Biden to decide whether to “run” and that Democrats “are all encouraging him to make that decision.”
Questions about her comments have been raised since Biden sent a letter to congressional Democrats on Monday flatly rejecting calls for his resignation.
Coons said his colleagues aren’t sending signals that they want Biden to make a different decision.
“I think Nancy Pelosi can speak clearly enough if she thinks she needs to make a different decision,” he said.
Coons dismissed the idea that her remarks contained a subliminal message, saying the former congresswoman was “one of the most capable and astute politicians” he had ever met.
“If she wants to send a message directly to our president, I think she knows how to do it,” he said.
Coons noted that Pelosi believed she was responding to voters nationwide who were concerned that Biden would not only not be able to beat former President Trump in this fall’s election, but that he would not be able to serve another four years if reelected.
The president insisted he would remain in the race and win.
“There’s a lot of casual, public conversation about what happens next. He’s made a decision. He’s communicated that to all of us,” Coons said. “It’s clear what happens next… He’s going to be our nominee at the convention. He’s going to be our presidential nominee… He’s going to be the next president of the United States.”
