A former aide to Jill Biden has publicly criticized the Bidens’ decision to re-enter the national spotlight during a period of historically low approval ratings for Democrats and declining popularity for President Donald Trump.
Michael LaRosa, who previously served as Jill Biden’s communications director, questioned the timing of Joe Biden’s public re-emergence last Tuesday. The 82-year-old former president delivered his first post-presidency speech, criticizing President Trump’s Social Security policies.
“I love both Bidens dearly, but staff loyalty means there is a responsibility to provide them with an honest situational awareness, especially when it comes to their public image, no matter how hurtful it is to hear,” LaRosa told the media on Saturday, April 19.
The Democratic Party is facing internal dissatisfaction at an unprecedented level. Recent polls show confidence in Democratic congressional leadership has dropped to 25%, a historic low, compared to the party’s average of 45%. Overall favorability for the party has fallen to 29%, while the Republican Party holds 36%.
LaRosa suggested that advisors with better awareness would have recognized the ongoing resentment within the Democratic Party. He noted that advisers would have perceived the “intense level of anger or indifference to them that remains inside our party and isn’t going away anytime soon.”
Democratic strategist Brad Bannon echoed these concerns, noting Trump’s declining approval ratings amid economic challenges. Bannon stated that Biden’s return to the public sphere provides Republicans an opportunity to deflect blame for current issues, saying, “it’s a bad time for Biden to re-emerge and remind them of the bad old days.”
Many Democratic leaders are privately encouraging the former president to maintain a lower profile as the party seeks to recover from their 2024 election loss. Approximately 19 million people who voted for Biden in 2020 did not participate in the 2024 election, highlighting significant voter disillusionment.
Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on July 21, 2024, marked a historic moment as he became the first incumbent president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 to drop out of a reelection campaign. While many praised this decision as responsible, others within the party believe it was too late to salvage their electoral chances.
LaRosa expressed concern that Biden’s return to the spotlight could distract from current issues in the Trump administration, especially as the economy struggles under new tariff policies. He described the situation as “a heartbreaking and tragic ending to their time in public life,” but emphasized that the Bidens “should index the political realities into their decision making.”
The Democratic Party’s challenges extend beyond the Bidens’ public presence. Party leadership is experiencing a confidence crisis among their own supporters, with only 63% of Democrats and Democrat-leaning voters viewing their party favorably, down from 81% at the start of Biden’s term. Additionally, 71% of voters indicate the party needs new moderate figures to lead it forward.
Meanwhile, younger Democratic figures like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are gaining prominence as the party searches for new leadership and direction. This generational shift is occurring as the party prepares for the 2026 midterm elections, which will be crucial for Democrats hoping to regain control of Congress.
According to Gallup polling, 54% of Americans expect that Biden will be remembered as a below-average or poor president, while 26% believe he will be viewed as average, and only 19% think he will be rated as outstanding or above average.
The former president’s legacy has been further complicated by his debate performance against Trump in June 2024, which raised widespread concerns about his age and health. These concerns ultimately contributed to the pressure from Democratic leaders for Biden to withdraw from the race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee.
While President Trump currently faces his own approval challenges, averaging 45% in the first quarter of his second term—below the post-World War II presidential average of 60%—he maintains strong support within his party. Recent polls show that 89% of Republicans express confidence in Trump’s economic leadership, compared to just 25% for Democratic congressional leaders.
