David Axelrod, a longtime strategist and senior adviser to former President Barack Obama, said President Joe Biden's reelection campaign needs to "focus" on the Republican front-runner, former President Donald Trump.
In an interview with CNN this week, Axelrod was asked about media reports on Biden's health and age.
"Elections are a choice, they're not a referendum," Axelrod said, adding that Biden's campaign should "get out of the referendum more and really focus on Donald Trump, who is an epically flawed candidate."
Although Axelrod said age concerns are "a problem" for Biden, 81, he recommended that the campaign should consider how to "present" the president and "shift the focus to Donald Trump."
Axelrod previously told Politico that it's "aggravating" how people react to him and other Biden supporters who publicly share their concerns about his campaign.
"Sometimes there's reason to be concerned," Axelrod said. "And there are a lot of really smart and committed supporters of Biden who have concerns.
"What you need to do is contemplate what it is that is concerning people, and decide what is legitimate and what needs to be done. There are people who are really, really committed to Joe Biden who felt a sense of concern and urgency — particularly because Donald Trump is on the other side of this race. So I thought it was extraordinarily tone-deaf and unhelpful."
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.