Biden promised Dem challenger Dean Phillips White House meeting that never happened

President Biden admitted in a March phone call to Rep.Dean Phillips that had Biden been a younger lawmaker, he too would have challenged an aging commander in chief — before promising his Democratic primary opponent a White House meeting that “never happened.”Phillips, 55, said that the day he abandoned his campaign against Biden, 81, the two “had a wonderful conversation” that ended in an invitation to discuss the state of the 2024 race at the executive mansion, the Minnesota Democrat told the Washington Post Friday.“He said he would have done the same thing — meaning, had the same [thing happened] some years ago, that he probably would have entered the race,” recalled Phillips, who is leaving Congress after this term.“He invited me into the White House to download and share any perspectives that I wished.

Unfortunately, that meeting never happened.”Phillips launched his primary challenge in October 2023, pointing to Biden’s already-disastrous polling numbers “that are so clearly saying that we’re going to be facing an emergency next November.”“I’ve been listening all around our country, and I know things are tough right now,” his campaign’s X account posted at the time.“The economy is not working for everybody.We are concerned about chaos at our border and crime in our communities.

We’re going to do better and we’re going to do it together!” In 2023, Biden’s approval rating twice hit a low of 37%, fueled by voters’ increasing dissatisfaction with rising inflation and unchecked migration across the southern border.A majority of Americans were also citing concerns about Biden’s mental fitness in public polls.Phillips later told The Post that, given the challenges, which also included worsening conflicts abroad in Ukraine and Israel, the president’s age was disqualifying.“We’re human beings, and I think it’s irresponsible for Americans to place in the White House presidents who are in their 80s.I think i...