Rahm Emanuel Discusses Biden Decision

Former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has delivered a sharp critique of President Joe Biden, accusing him of missing a pivotal moment of leadership when he walked back his use of the term “illegal” during the 2024 State of the Union address.

On The Bulwark podcast, Emanuel didn’t mince words, saying Biden’s retreat in the face of pressure from progressive voices undercut his credibility and fed into doubts about his strength as a leader on the national and global stage.

The moment in question came when Biden, responding to Republican demands during his address, referred to the Venezuelan national who murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley as “an illegal.”

Almost immediately, Biden faced backlash from progressive corners over his word choice. The next day, he appeared on MSNBC and corrected himself: “I shouldn’t have used ‘illegal,’ it’s ‘undocumented.’” He then attempted to soften the remark further by emphasizing his respect for immigrants and their role in building the country.

But according to Emanuel, that correction was a critical misstep. “That was the slowest pitch over the plate,” he said, suggesting Biden had the opportunity to affirm his position clearly, like past Democratic leaders — Clinton, Obama, Kennedy — who seized contentious moments to demonstrate presidential grit.

“Nobody thinks you deserve to go into the Oval Office if a group in Washington can stare you down,” Emanuel added, drawing a direct line between domestic indecision and international perception.

Emanuel’s criticism comes at a time when many Democrats are re-evaluating the party’s messaging on immigration. Biden’s initial use of “illegal” was reportedly unscripted — a reflexive reaction to the emotional demand to “say her name.” But the walk-back fueled perceptions that Biden is beholden to the ideological sensitivities of his base, even when the broader public wants clarity, not euphemism.

This isn’t just a messaging issue; it’s a credibility one. Emanuel’s argument is simple: if Biden caves to Beltway backlash on a term like “illegal immigrant,” what does that signal to world leaders like Xi Jinping or Vladimir Putin? The optics are not of strength, but of fragility — a perception that Democrats can’t afford as the nation navigates a volatile geopolitical landscape and a border crisis that continues to dominate headlines.

Laken Riley’s murder, committed by Jose Antonio Ibarra — an illegal immigrant with a criminal history who was allowed into the country during Biden’s tenure — became a flashpoint for national outrage. Biden’s mispronunciation of her name during the address, followed by his hasty correction and apology, only added to the sense that his response was reactive and poorly handled.

Emanuel’s remarks also serve a dual purpose. He’s not just criticizing Biden — he’s staking out ideological territory ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run. By calling out his party’s excesses on social issues and identity politics, Emanuel is positioning himself as a centrist alternative with toughness — a contrast to what he perceives as Biden’s deference to progressive orthodoxy.

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