A former aide to Jill Biden has publicly criticized the Bidens’ decision to return to the national spotlight during a period when Democrats are dealing with historically low approval ratings and President Donald Trump’s popularity is also declining.
Michael LaRosa, who once served as Jill Biden’s communications director, questioned the timing of Joe Biden’s public re-emergence last Tuesday, April 15. The 82-year-old former president delivered his first post-presidency speech, criticizing President Trump’s stance on Social Security.
“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.
This criticism arises at a sensitive moment for the Democratic Party, which is experiencing unprecedented levels of internal dissatisfaction. Recent polling indicates that confidence in Democratic congressional leadership has dropped to 25%, a historic low below the party’s average of 45%. The party’s overall favorability rating has decreased to 29%, compared to the Republican Party’s 36%.
LaRosa suggested that if the Bidens had advisers with better awareness of current political sentiments, they would understand the lingering resentment within the Democratic Party. He noted that advisers would have recognized 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, highlighting that Trump’s approval ratings are currently declining alongside economic challenges. Bannon explained that Biden’s return to the public eye creates an opportunity for Republicans to deflect blame for current problems, telling The Hill that “it’s a bad time for Biden to re-emerge and remind them of the bad old days.”
Many Democratic leaders are privately urging the former president to maintain a lower profile as the party attempts to rebuild following their 2024 election defeat. Approximately 19 million people who voted for Biden in 2020 did not participate in the 2024 election, illustrating 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 step out of a reelection campaign. While many praised this decision as responsible, others within the party believe it came too late to salvage their electoral chances.
LaRosa expressed concern that Biden’s return to the spotlight could divert attention from current issues in the Trump administration, particularly as the economy struggles under new tariff policies. He characterized 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.
