Janice R. Andrews
When questioned on Monday about Speaker Mike Johnson disparaging his new Supreme Court plan, President Joe Biden had an odd reply, labeling the House Speaker as “dead on arrival.”
On a trip to Texas, Biden—who had returned to the nation following his retreat and endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as his party’s presumed nominee—made the remark in support of his proposal to restrict the Supreme Court’s terms to eighteen years. A week after his debate performance and the interviews that followed led many Democrats to want him to resign as the party’s standard bearer, this job brought him back before the media.
A Republican Congress and a Senate filibuster make Biden’s Supreme Court plan almost impossible to pass. Johnson has previously referred to it as “dead on arrival.” “That’s what he is,” Biden said in response to a reporter’s question on Johnson’s statement. When the reporter pressed Biden for more details on the remark, he gave none.
In addition, Johnson declared that the Republican House would not consider the idea and attacked it as an attempt to “delegitimize the Court”. He posted a footage from Biden’s debate with Donald Trump, in which the latter improvised, saying, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” in response to Biden’s remark on Monday afternoon. Nor, I believe, did he.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat from Texas, was the first member of the House to urge Biden to withdraw his reelection attempt following his disastrous debate performance. Biden made this strange remark only seconds before. Biden finally acted on the recommendation after under criticism from several members who were concerned that he would lose and maybe cost Democrats the Senate and the House.
His comments coincided with the White House’s ongoing process of figuring out how to deal with an incumbent president who is abdicating part of his political responsibilities in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris, who said on Monday that the administration will “recalibrate.”
“Over the past week, a significant transformation has occurred. Therefore, we do need to reassess and plan for the upcoming half-year. Reporters on Air Force One were informed by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “I mean, that’s just fair, right, for us to just figure that all out.” “The president will be present. We need to reassess and gain a perspective on the upcoming months since he will be out there.”
On Monday, Biden reaffirmed his position as the head of state, presenting a comprehensive policy proposal in an opinion piece and serving as the public face of his own government. After Harris officially endorsed the idea, Biden spoke with him about his proposal to restructure the Supreme Court. This was his first significant policy declaration since resigning before Harris was declared the front-runner for the party nomination, according to the White House.
“Yes, she had a hand in this. She was consulted by the president,” Jean-Pierre stated. “He certainly listened to her expertise in this arena as well.” Though she provided no details on how Biden’s role would alter in the upcoming months as a lame duck serving out his term as Harris assumes greater responsibilities as her party’s presumptive nominee, Jean-Pierre pointed to Biden and Harris’ ongoing contacts.
“Their connection is quite close. They converse frequently. They get together over lunch. They converse over the phone “said her.
Regarding Biden’s potential involvement at his party’s convention in Chicago the following month, Jean-Pierre provided little details. “I’m going to let the convention speak to that,” she replied. The campaign, she added, will address Biden’s travels during a week in which he has no other scheduled events scheduled save a speech on Monday and an attendance at a memorial ceremony for the late Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee in Houston.
As he was leaving the White House on Monday at lunchtime, Biden spoke with the media as well. In response to an outcry on the need for Supreme Court reform, he said. His curt reply was, “Reform the Supreme Court because it needs to be reformed.”
Biden’s interactions and remarks draw attention to the continuous difficulties and modifications the White House must make in order to navigate an unprecedented political environment. The administration must strike a balance between maintaining continuity and using new tactics in order to preserve political stability and public trust, particularly with Biden stepping back and Harris taking on increasing duties. As things develop, everyone’s going to be watching closely to see how Biden and Harris handle this change and what effect it has on their party and the next elections.
