RNC Chairwoman Says US Has Become ‘More Divided’ Under Biden

Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, in Dana Point, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2023. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said President Joe Biden has further divided the nation nearly three years into his presidency.

“The President—came in as this unifier—‘I’m going to work across the aisle,’ and he’s been nothing like that at all. Our party, our country is more divided than it’s ever been,” Ms. McDaniel said during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”

The chairwoman made the comment in response to a question about President Biden’s remarks at a dinner hosted by the the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington on Saturday. During the event, President Biden said the former president and his MAGA Republicans “are determined to spread anger, hate, and division.”

“They seek power at all costs. They’re determined to destroy this democracy,” President Biden said.

President Joe Biden speaks onstage at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation annual Legislative Conference National Town Hall in Washington on Sept. 23, 2023. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference

In his inaugural address, President Biden pledged to be “a president for all Americans,” emphasizing that “unity is the path forward.” Weeks earlier, when he declared victory in the 2020 race, the president also pledged to be a “president who seeks not to divide but to unify,” saying he would be someone who “doesn’t see red states or blue states but the United States.”

This is not the first time that President Biden has been criticized for failing to unite the country as commander in chief. In 2021, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) criticized the president for breaking his promise and instead focusing on a radical agenda.

Poll

Mr. McDaniel pointed to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, showing how Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with the president.

“We’re also failing as a country, and that Washington Post poll shows that three out of four Americans feel like they’re doing poorly or not as well under Joe Biden,” Ms. McDaniel said. “Bidenomics is failing, crime is rising, our border is out of control, people are dying of fentanyl. Joe Biden is failing and his approval is at 37 percent.”

She added, “So that is the record of Joe Biden and why Republicans are surging and have a good chance to take back the White House in 2024.”

The poll found President Trump leading President Biden by 10 percentage points, 52 percent to 42 percent, in a hypothetical two-way matchup.

House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) speaks to reporters alongside U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) at a press conference after a Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Sept. 13, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

House GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y). took to X to comment on the poll results, dismissing the poll’s questions about President Trump’s lead.

“The latest ABC/Washington Post Poll has Trump beating Biden by 10% and they are desperately scrambling trying to call it an ‘outlier,’” Ms. Stefanik wrote. “It’s not an outlier. The elitist Left and their stenographers in the mainstream media should talk to more voters across America. President Trump has historic support in Upstate New York and all across the country!”

Debate

Ms. McDaniel also said President Trump will not take part in the second Republican presidential primary debate, which is scheduled for Sept. 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

“The field will be set Monday night. Right now there are seven that have qualified. And I think you’re going to see more of what you saw in Milwaukee and these candidates trying to make their case to the American people,” Ms. McDaniel said.

She continued: “The first vote is going to be in January of 2024, January 15th in Iowa. And I think they’re trying to get that momentum as they had and of course, President Trump’s going to be in Michigan. So we'll be missing him from that debate.”

President Trump is scheduled to give a speech in Clinton Township, Michigan, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Sept. 27. The former president skipped the first debate in Milwaukee and aired a pre-recorded interview he did with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Former president Donald Trump speaks with Tucker Carlson in a pre-recorded interview aired on debate night on Aug. 23, 2023. Tucker Carlson/X

“I want him to attend a debate and he knows that, everybody knows,” Ms. McDaniel said. “I think the other candidates also want him to attend a debate. I hope that before January he comes to a debate and participates in that process. But everybody is doing their own strategy.”

Trump continues to be the frontrunner in the polls. According to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, which asked 1,748 Republicans from Sept. 8 to Sept. 14, President Trump netted 51 percent of support, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis training in the second place with 14 percent.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy finished third with 13 percent, followed by a tie between former President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley with 4 percent each. 7 percent said they were unsure whom they would support.

“DeSantis’ popularity has dropped among Republicans since mid-March, when 30% of Republicans selected him as their top candidate,” the poll says.