Mayor Brandon Johnson and other Democratic mayors will join a call with President Joe Biden Tuesday evening, in the embattled president’s latest bid to shore up allies amid blistering criticism within his own party following a dismal debate performance.
Johnson’s political spokesman Christian Perry confirmed the mayor will attend the briefing but did not have further details. At least one other big city mayor, Eric Adams of New York City, will also be on the call, CBS New York reported.
The impromptu call follows a similar one Biden held with Democratic governors including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who some have speculated has his own presidential ambitions. Pritzker is so far sticking with Biden despite the president’s June debate against presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump that sparked widespread concern among Democrats over Biden’s age and mental fitness.
Johnson has proven to be one of Biden’s staunchest defenders among Democratic mayors despite mounting frustration internally among his inner circle and political allies over the federal government’s lack of support for the migrant humanitarian crisis that has cost the city more than $400 million since 2022.
Still, Chicago’s pick as the host city for the Democratic National Convention has placed the mayor in a tough spot when it comes to speaking out more forcefully on how he feels Biden’s immigration policy missteps have overburdened Chicago.
The same cannot be said for other mayors dealing with the migrant crisis. Adams in New York City has criticized Biden sharply for what he casts as abandoning the city and forcing leaders to make tough budgetary choices over an issue that should be handled by the federal government.
There is also the dynamic of Johnson’s and Biden’s politics being on opposite ends of the Democratic Party spectrum. Johnson was the biggest city mayor to back a ceasefire in the Gaza war, and some of his top surrogates have condemned Biden and even the prospect of celebrating his nomination at the DNC in Chicago. The news outlet Politico reported concerns in May that the mayor of the host city may sympathize more with the protesters than the incumbent president.
ayin@chicagotribune.com