Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on Thursday morning gave a public apology to President Joe Biden for recently saying she didn’t think he would run for re-election in 2024.
Maloney, 76, is in a hotly contested Democratic primary with Rep. Jerry Nadler, 75, and 38-year-old attorney Suraj Patel for New York’s 12th Congressional District. During a debate on Tuesday night, Maloney said she doesn’t “believe he is running for re-election” when asked about Biden seeking a second term in the White House.
The next day, she issued a tweet-thread mea culpa over the remark.
And by Thursday, she was groveling on live television. “Mr. President, I apologize,” Maloney told CNN anchor Brianna Keilar. “I want you to run. I happen to think you won’t be running, but when you run or if you run, I will be there 100%. You have deserved it.”
“You are a great president, and thank you for everything you’ve done for my state and all the states and all the cities in America,” the Democrat added. “Thank you, Mr. President.”
Rep. Carolyn Maloney after saying she thinks Biden won't run for re-election in 2024:
"Mr. President, I apologize. I want you to run. I happen to think you won't be running, but when you run or if you run, I will be there 100%."pic.twitter.com/DzPXQqBaiH
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) August 4, 2022
“I will absolutely support President Biden, if he decides to run for re-election,” Maloney similarly tweeted Wednesday. “Biden’s leadership securing historic investments for healthcare, climate & economic justice prove once again why he is the strong and effective leader we need right now.”
“I urge all Democrats to stay united & focused on working towards winning the midterms,” she added. “Right now, I am concentrating on the upcoming Democratic primary on August 23rd & the issues that matter to the voters of #NY12.”
I urge all Democrats to stay united & focused on working towards winning the midterms.
Right now, I am concentrating on the upcoming Democratic primary on August 23rd & the issues that matter to the voters of #NY12. Request your absentee ballot by Monday, August 8th
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@CarolynBMaloney) August 3, 2022
Patel’s campaign has already mocked Maloney for the walk-back.
“Carolyn Maloney is on an embarrassing, multi-day flip-flop non-apology tour where she’s now walked back her walk back,” the campaign slammed in a press release, according to Yahoo.
Of course, Maloney is not alone when it comes to her feelings about Biden in 2024. Leftist Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in June dodged a question about whether she would support a 2024 Biden bid.
“I just want to ask about President Biden,” CNN’s Dana Bash asked AOC, The Daily Wire reported. “He is saying he’s going to run again in 2024. Will you support him?”
“You know, if the president chooses to run again in 2024, I mean, first of all, I’m focused on winning this majority right now,” Ocasio-Cortez responded. “And preserving a majority this year in 2022. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. But I think if the president has a vision, then that’s something we’re all certainly willing to entertain and examine when the time comes.”
“That’s not a yes,” Bash reacted.
“Yeah, you know, I think we should endorse…when we get to it,” AOC said. “But I believe that the president has been doing a very good job so far. And, you know, should he run again, I think that I — you know, I think it’s — we’ll take a look at it. But right now we need to focus on winning a majority instead of a presidential election.”
"[Biden] is saying he's gonna run again in 2024. Will you support him?"
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ: "We'll take a look at it. Ha ha ha." pic.twitter.com/ztJJe55vJv
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 12, 2022
Related: AOC Dodges, Laughs Off Question About Whether She’ll Back Biden in 2024