Former President Obama believes there would be “incalculable damage” if former President Trump were to win reelection this year, former Attorney General Eric Holder said.
In an interview with USA Today, Holder, a close friend of Obama, said he and the former president both believe that the damage would be great if Trump were to win the 2024 election.
“I think that’s what motivates him,” Holder said of Obama. “I think that’s what will continue to motivate him.”
Holder’s comments come just days after former first lady Michelle Obama said she is “terrified about what could possibly happen” in the election.
“Because our leaders matter. Who we select, who speaks for us, who hold that bully pulpit – it affects us in ways that sometimes I think people take for granted,” she said on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast Monday.
The 44th president has been speaking with President Biden, his former vice president, regularly and honestly about the race, sources close with Obama told USA Today.
The outlet reported that Obama thinks the election will “be a very close race,” according to a person close to him, and that as Biden’s campaign attempts to stifle worries about his chances against Trump, the former president will try to help with key voting bases polls show Biden has seen a decline in support from since 2020, including voters of color.
Obama has continued to have open communication with the president and his campaign, attempting to fundraise and aid in the reelection efforts that he sees as vital, USA Today reported.
The comments come as Biden’s approval rating has recently hit record lows, and polling shows voters are displeased with his handling of issues such as immigration and the war between Israel and Hamas and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
National polling has also shown the president losing ground against Trump in a hypothetical general election match-up in recent months. According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling average, Trump overtook Biden in September.
As of Jan. 7, Trump is earning 44.3 percent support, while Biden trails closely behind with 43.1 percent, per the polling average.