Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) on Tuesday suggested he has backed away from publicly calling on President Biden to step out of the 2024 race, stating the assassination attempt against former President Trump “overtook” conversations about Biden’s viability.
Landsman said he was not ready to tell Biden he should step aside, when asked during an appearance on “CNN This Morning”.
What took place during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday was “an attempted assassination on former President Trump’s life,” Landsman said.
“And it’s not okay. None of us should be okay about it. And that overtook — as you can imagine — the conversations that I was having at home. I spent most of Sunday with constituents talking through what it means, and you know, overwhelmingly, I heard folks say, we really do need to dial it back.”
The shooting left the former president wounded, after he said a bullet pierced his ear. One spectator was killed and two other attendees were injured. Authorities fatally shot the suspected shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, moments after the shooting occurred.
The incident followed an already tense few weeks in politics, highlighted by the fallout of Biden’s shaky debate performance against Trump last month. The president faced mounting pressure to withdraw from the race after his lackluster showing sparked concerns over his mental acuity and ability to defeat Trump and carry out a second term.
Landsman was not among the Democrats to publicly urge Biden to step down, though he said earlier this month that time was “running out” for the president to make the case for his candidacy.
Landsman on Tuesday said he expressed these concerns to leadership , but believes the decision is ultimately up to them.
“But now, as you know, at least for this week, all eyes are on former President Trump and we’re genuinely glad he’s okay. That was terrifying,” Landsman said.
Despite a number of Democratic lawmakers calling for Biden to step down, the president and his team have maintained he intends on staying in the race, stating he is capable of beating Trump in November and up for a second term.
“We gotta finish the job. I promise you I am OK,” Biden told supporters during a campaign stop last week in Michigan.
“That’s why I’m running to finish this job. There’s more to do. I know I’m only 41. …I promise you I’m OK,” he said, cracking a joke about his age.