Obama to meet with Sanders, gently nudge him to support Clinton

Sen. Bernie Sanders exits the White House

(Image credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 9 June 2016

Bernie Sanders is meeting President Obama in the White House on Thursday, then Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and holding a campaign rally at RFK Stadium ahead of next Tuesday's Washington, D.C., primary. At the White House meeting, which Sanders requested, Obama will gently and respectfully prod Sanders toward recognizing Hillary Clinton's victory, and harnessing his campaign to support her and defeat Donald Trump, the White House said.

Obama won't pressure Sanders to quit, aides say, and will offer to help Sanders continue pressing for the progressive ideas he espoused in the campaign. "You've built this enormous grassroots movement; what do you want to do with that?" said Obama's communications director, Jen Psaki, previewing the meeting. It will be Obama's fifth meeting with Sanders since the primary began, and "the president's chief goal during the next few days," The New York Times says, will be "finding a way to help guide Mr. Sanders past his disappointment." Sometime after the meeting, Obama is expected to endorse Clinton.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.