‘Shameful’: Rep. Omar calls out ‘lack of leadership’ amid Democratic upheaval

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a prominent member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called “leaks” and a “lack of leadership” within the Democratic Party “shameful” amid deep questions about President Biden’s ability to beat former President Trump in November.

“I can’t tell you all how shameful it feels to hear all these leaks about what Democratic leaders are [saying] and not to have a single one of them out here confirming or denying it,” Omar wrote in a post on social platform X. 

“It’s a lack of leadership and it’s making all Democrats look bad. Whatever this mess leads to will not undo the damage that has already been inflicted. May God help us all.”

Her comments come after reports surfaced this week that key Democratic leaders are working to convince Biden to step aside, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Leaks have largely dominated the reporting around the Democrats’ inner turmoil in recent weeks, while lawmakers have said on the record the ultimate decision rests with the president.

Omar’s office did not reply to The Hill by publication time as to whether any specific instance sparked the comment.

She made the post less than an hour after The New York Times published a letter Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sent Biden in early July pleading with him to step aside, one of a number of Democrats voicing such sentiments.

Omar joins several prominent Democrats calling for party unity behind the president. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wrote in a Times op-ed Saturday that Democrats should stop their “circular firing squad.”

Much of the Congressional Progressive Caucus has rallied to Biden’s defense amid calls to step aside, including Omar herself. 

“Outside a few outliers I think everybody’s supporting the president,” the congresswoman said last week. “He’s been the best president of my lifetime, and we have his back.”

While reported calls for Biden to step aside were momentarily quelled after the assassination attempt of Trump on Saturday, they reemerged after the weekend. On Wednesday, prominent Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.) told the Los Angeles Times that it was time for Biden to “pass the torch.”

The president, who has turned to the campaign trail to repair his image among the electorate, returned home to Wilmington, Del., on Wednesday after being diagnosed with COVID-19. 

Since his disastrous presidential debate performance in late June, Biden has resisted granting any ground to those calling for him to step out of the race. 

However, Biden recently said he would leave the race if he was diagnosed with a “medical condition” during an interview with BET that aired Wednesday. 

“If I had some medical condition that emerged. If doctors came to me and said, ‘You’ve got this problem, that problem,’” Biden said.

Updated: 7:02 p.m.