Fox News host Julie Banderas and former New York state Sen. David Carlucci had a tense exchange Friday about President Joe Biden’s leadership.
Biden’s approval rating recently hit 34%, with only 19% of Americans satisfied with the country’s direction, according to a Gallup poll. Carlucci defended Biden, saying the president makes decisions based on what’s best for the country, not public approval.
“You can be pessimistic, you can ask questions and always hope to do better,” Carlucci said. “Sometimes these policies are unpopular, but Biden believes they’re right for the country. If we’re worried about who’s calling the shots, we should focus on Elon Musk and others around Trump.”
Banderas quickly pushed back. “No, that’s such a Democratic talking point about Elon Musk,” she said. “Trump isn’t going to let anyone take the wind out of his sails. He’s not going to let Musk make decisions, just like Biden didn’t let Kamala Harris mess up.”
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Some Democrats and the liberal media speculated that Musk might be behind some decisions after both he and Trump opposed the 1,500-page continuing resolution bill, which the House voted down. Carlucci suggested Musk, a “very talented person,” should have a role in government, but also emphasized transparency in decision-making.
“Wouldn’t you want a smart businessman in office, or do you want Kamala Harris?” Banderas asked.
Carlucci didn’t back down. “If we’re talking about who’s calling the shots, let’s call a spade a spade,” he said. “Let’s make sure there’s transparency.”
Banderas raised concerns about who is really making decisions in the Biden administration. She pointed out that many important decisions seem to come from White House aides, not Biden himself.
The Wall Street Journal reported that White House aides and cabinet members often handle Biden’s duties. Some cabinet officials revealed they’ve met with advisers instead of the president, while others prepared notes for him and canceled meetings if he wasn’t up to it.
Biden faced increased pressure in July when several Democrats called for him to step down, questioning his mental fitness to continue as president.