Trump is reportedly nervous about the possibility of Biden running for president
There are a lot of Democrats who have hinted at running for president in 2020, but none of the many names send a shiver down President Trump's spine quite like "former Vice President Joe Biden."
Trump's advisers say he would be most concerned about his re-election if Biden was his Democratic competitor, Axios reported Wednesday. While he sees other potential candidates as weak, he thinks Biden could capitalize on Trump's own style to sway voters to go blue.
The president's previous claim that running against Biden would be a "dream" may have been a bluff, sources said, since he's privately worried that Biden could appeal to the blue-collar white voters that make up Trump's base. Biden "conveys authenticity," isn't afraid of a good verbal sparring match, and wouldn't hold back in getting under Trump's skin, advisers say. Additionally, the former VP is true to his Rust Belt roots, and could drum up support in working-class areas where Trump would desperately need wide margins to win again.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Lastly, Trump is reportedly most concerned about winning back Pennsylvania in 2020, especially if Biden, a Scranton native, took the lead as his opponent. The battleground state is sure to be hotly contested, and Democrats will be vying to flip it back in their favor. Biden has waded into talks of a presidential campaign, but has family matters that have kept him from jumping in entirely. On the other hand, he would reportedly view it as his last shot at politics, leaving him with "nothing to lose." Read more at Axios.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Spaniards seeing red over bullfightingUnder the Radar Shock resignation of top matador is latest blow in culture war over tradition that increasingly divides Spain
-
Bailouts: Why Trump is rescuing ArgentinaFeature The White House approved a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina
-
James indictment: Trump’s retributionFeature Trump pursues charges against Letitia James in revenge for her civil fraud lawsuit
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified filesSpeed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DCSpeed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operationsSpeed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rulesSpeed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
