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Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday offered a fierce, all-out defense of President Joe Biden, questioning why there is even a debate between a sitting president who has “stood up for” Chicago and a former president who “has not accepted the results of the Civil War” and is “on trial for an attempted coup to overturn” the 2020 election.
During a news conference at Dyett High School to promote his summer jobs program, Johnson sharply rejected the growing number of Democratic leaders and contributors —including Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, are Fellow Illinois Democrat Rep. Brad Schneiderand Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel, brother of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel—that a Biden weakened by the debates at the head of the Democratic ticket could drag down and cost Democrats any chance of retaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives and winning control of the U.S. Senate.
“As for the debate, I don’t even know why there is a debate, honestly. Do you know that the former president has been tried for an attempted coup to overturn an election? … Do you understand how unusual that is?” Johnson said, raising his voice.
“He is accused of having participated in the attack on our government on January 6th… He has made it very clear that he has not accepted the results of the Civil War and that he wants revenge. … What are we debating? You can choose the person who has stood up for the people of this country, investing in cities across America, or you can choose the person who does not believe in democracy. The choice is clear: Biden-Harris.”
On Tuesday night, Johnson was one of 200 mayors who participated in an hour-long call with Biden, as the President continues to try to salvage his candidacy following the debate debacle. Afterward, Johnson wrote a letter to supporters describing Biden as “quite enthusiastic.”
The mayor said he emerged from the conversation convinced that Biden is “ready, willing and able to take on and defeat Donald Trump” and that he “will travel the country and campaign tirelessly” to achieve this.
He described Donald Trump as an “existential threat” to Chicago… “our movement, our rights and our freedom”… and “everything we value here in Chicago.”
On Thursday, Johnson used his summer jobs announcement as a springboard to defend Biden.
“This President is committed to the kind of investments that are needed to create more opportunities for young people. He has given me his word. He has shown up. His commitment to investing in our communities is real,” Johnson said.
“I have confidence because he is the only person on the planet who has defeated Donald Trump — I will support the person who has a record of winning — especially when they believe in the work we are doing.”
As Johnson defended Biden, his chief operating officer, John Roberson, sought to reassure local residents, businesses and visitors and counter those he called “haters who don’t believe Chicago is ready” to host the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which is just 48 days away.
President Joe Biden during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 2024 Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. NATO leaders are meeting this week in Washington for the annual summit to discuss future strategies and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the alliance.
Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
Roberson was joined at the City Club of Chicago luncheon by Christy George, executive director of the Chicago Host Committee, and Alex Hornbrook, executive director of the DNC Committee.
“Let me be very clear and very direct. The city of Chicago is ready. Period,” Roberson said to applause.
“The city of Chicago is more prepared for the 2024 DNC than it was prepared for the 1996 DNC. And that’s because of the lessons we’ve learned. There’s no city — not in the country, not in the world — that has the depth of experience, that has the infrastructure, that has the expertise in managing large-scale events like the city of Chicago.”
Roberson spoke of protesters who will undoubtedly come to Chicago to demonstrate over the Gaza war, abortion and other issues.
“For a mayor who comes from the world of work, who comes from the movement, he accepts it. He encourages it. … But we are not going to tolerate vandalism,” Roberson said.
You only worry when you’re not prepared, Roberson said. Chicago “is not worried because we’re prepared,” he said. “We know that because of our preparation and our training, whatever protest is going to take place, we’re going to be absolutely prepared.”
“There have been protests in Gaza… by thousands of people… at our local universities, on Michigan Avenue. And yet we were able to manage those protests in a very orderly manner. They did not result in the destruction of property or loss of human life.”
As mayor of the city hosting the Democratic National Convention, Johnson finds himself at a political crossroads.
He cannot afford to do anything other than firmly support Biden, unless Biden himself decides to withdraw.
But Johnson has also been openly disenchanted with the Biden administration’s response to the immigration crisis that has dominated the rookie mayor’s first year in office and put incredible strain on the city’s finances. Just this week, Johnson called on the federal government for more help to stop the bloodshed on Chicago’s streets.
After a Fourth of July weekend marked by more than 100 shootings, 21 of them fatal, Johnson said the feds must stem the flow of illegal guns and provide more money for victim support as well as what he called “boots on the ground” as violence interrupters.
“Remember the mass shooting that happened in Highland Park and all the services they received? That’s what we asked for. That’s all,” the mayor said Monday. “What other suburban places get across the country when mass shootings like that happen, we’re just saying Chicago deserves that, too.”
Biden’s staunch support for Israel in the Israel-Hamas war has further complicated the relationship.
By voting for a nonbinding City Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, Johnson alienated Jewish leaders who have been among the president’s strongest supporters.
Biden’s progressive and pro-Palestinian supporters, who are some of the mayor’s staunchest defenders on the City Council, have denounced him as “Genocidal Joe.”
Three months ago, an attempt to remove Councilman Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) as Housing Committee chair for appearing at a City Council rally where an American flag was burned to protest U.S. support for Israel was quashed following a private apology, a public pardon, and a split vote.