Colbert: Pelosi using ‘weapons-grade passive aggression’ toward Biden

“The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is using “weapons-grade passive aggression” to try to convince President Biden to get out of the presidential race.

Colbert played a segment of Pelosi’s Wednesday interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” where she said it is up to Biden “to decide if he’s going to run.”

She offered the comments two days after Biden sent a letter to Democrats making it crystal clear he intended to run despite widespread worries in the party about his debate performance late last month.

“That is some weapons-grade passive aggression,” Colbert commented after playing the clip.

Pelosi’s suggestion that Biden still has a choice to make about the upcoming election adds to the mounting number of lawmakers and high-profile Democratic supporters who have declined to back the president’s candidacy. 

The Hill reported Thursday that Pelosi has been working behind the scenes to place pressure on Biden to step aside. While she has not called on the president to exit the race, lawmakers have said she’s expressed concerns over Biden’s ability to beat former President Trump.

Colbert also cited an Axios report that said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has been privately signaling he’s open to new Democratic leadership in talks with donors.

The Hill reported Friday that Schumer also has doubts about whether Biden can win but that he has told colleagues it is Biden’s decision and he does not want to do anything to undermine him.

Eighteen Democratic members of Congress have publicly called on Biden to step aside, a list that seems to grow each day but that still represents a small fraction of Democrats in Congress.

“One guy who is not giving up on Joe Biden, is Joe Biden,” Colbert quipped.