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Biden announces Susan Rice is stepping down as domestic policy advisor: ‘I will miss her’

April 24, 2023 | | Print Article

In a surprising announcement, President Joe Biden confirmed on Monday that the woman many have called the “shadow president,” Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice, will be stepping down.

“I surprised a lot of people when I named Ambassador Susan Rice as my Domestic Policy Advisor,” Biden said in a White House statement. “Susan was synonymous with foreign policy, having previously served as National Security Advisor and UN Ambassador. But what I knew then and what we all know now – after more than two years of her steady leadership of the Domestic Policy Council – it’s clear: there is no one more capable, and more determined to get important things done for the American people than Susan Rice.”

The statement continued:

Thanks to her tireless efforts, we expanded and strengthened the Affordable Care Act, released a comprehensive national mental health strategy, and finally enabled Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors and cap the cost of insulin at $35. We’ve taken historic actions to reduce gun violence and advance police reform. We are addressing our failed approach to marijuana. We have embedded equity into the work of the entire federal government. We are making college more affordable and accessible and providing student debt relief. We are increasing access to high quality child care and long-term care. We have committed to a bold national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related disease by 2030. We reversed the harmful immigration policies of the previous Administration, reunified more than 670 children separated from their families, and rebuilt the broken system of care for unaccompanied children, putting their safety and well-being first and foremost.

 

“The list goes on,” Biden said, “and would not have been possible without Susan.”

“As the only person to serve as both National Security Advisor and Domestic Policy Advisor, Susan’s record of public service makes history,” the statement reads. “But what sets her apart as a leader and colleague is the seriousness with which she takes her role and the urgency and tenacity she brings, her bias towards action and results, and the integrity, humility and humor with which she does this work.”

Remarkably, the news of Rice’s departure comes one day before, according to reports, Biden will officially declare his 2024 candidacy for reelection.

As BizPac Review reported, an announcement on Tuesday would “coincide with the four-year anniversary of his 2020 campaign launch.”

Already, some are wondering on Twitter if Rice’s move is related to Biden’s determination to run again.

“Even Susan Rice is running for the hills and abandoning the crashing Biden ship,” stated conservative Congressional candidate Lavern Spicer. “When you lose Susan Rice, you’re really losing!”

For years, former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell has claimed that Rice is the nation’s “shadow president.”

“Susan Rice has been appointed as domestic policy adviser. That’s a joke. She doesn’t know anything about domestic policy,” Grenell told CPAC’s Matt Schlapp in May 2021.

“President Biden is too weak to stop the progressive left from taking over… [Vice President] Kamala Harris does not understand what’s going on because she’s not an expert on foreign policy. And Susan Rice is really happy that Biden is too weak,” Grenell explained at the time. “Kamala is totally distracted with the 50-50 Senate and has to be up at the Senate. [Rice] is running the show. We have a shadow president in Susan Rice and no one is paying attention.”

With news that Rice is stepping down, Grenell slammed NBC for failing to cover “the secret hand of Susan Rice for the last few years. ”

“She’s plotted at State and the intel agencies without scrutiny,” he tweeted on Monday. “She leaves the White House with world chaos in her wake.”

https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1650499327620423686?s=20

Citing two people with knowledge of the deliberations, Politico reports that Biden’s staff secretary and senior adviser, Neera Tanden, is among those the administration is considering as a replacement. However, a White House official speaking separately said that no replacement has been finalized.

For her part, Rice says she is “grateful” to Biden.

“I am deeply grateful to @potus for trusting and empowering me to serve as his Domestic Policy Advisor,” she tweeted. “I love the team @ DPC and in the @WhiteHouse. There are no more dedicated public servants. I am so proud of all we have been able to accomplish together for the American people.”

In his statement, Biden, too, expressed gratitude.

“I thank Susan for her service, her counsel and her friendship,” the president said. “I will miss her.”

Melissa Fine
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