The following is a transcript of an interview with Rep. Dean Phillips, Democrat of Minnesota, on “Face the Nation” that aired July 21, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who was one of the few Democrats to run against President Biden in the primary. It’s a pleasure to have you with us.
REPRESENTATIVE DEAN PHILLIPS: Glad to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When you suspended your campaign in March, you endorsed President Biden. Do you maintain that position? And what are you telling your delegates to do at this point?
REPUBLICAN PHILLIPS: I stand by that position. I mean, obviously, Margaret, I ran because I saw an illusion. I saw a country that was in a very different place than our Democratic Party, over 50 percent of Democrats at the time wanted a different candidate. And I was on a mission to expose the truth, to provide an alternative, and to do what I really saw in the numbers and by intuition was necessary. It didn’t work, of course, but I was trying to create a debate that I knew was a question of when and not if, and now we have it. The president called me in March, we had a very civil conversation, and I supported him, and I still support him. But it’s time to step aside and let a new generation speak. My support remains until he makes that decision. I encourage him to do it, and he has a chance to be an American hero.
MARGARET BRENNAN: He says he’s made a decision, but it doesn’t seem to be the decision that many lawmakers would like to make.
REPUBLIC PHILLIPS: Leaving a career in public service is not easy. When I ran for president, I knew I would be leaving my career in Congress, a career that I love. But there’s something more important. Joe Biden has had an extraordinary career, you can’t see it. I can’t compare myself to what he’s done. But it’s hard to leave that career, and I recognize that. But he has to do it, he has to put this country first. And I want to send a message of optimism to Democrats right now. This could be the most extraordinary opportunity we’ve had in generations to reset, to reenergize, to reengage, and actually not just change the narrative, which would really upset Donald Trump, but to get it done. And I know the president recognizes that I hope he concludes that relatively quickly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So we have about 40 legislators who have spoken, and over 200 Democrats in the House of Representatives. So where is the majority at this point? Because a relatively small number of lawmakers are speaking on the record, as you are doing now.
REP. PHILLIPS: Well, we started with one man and now we’re up to about 40. But the truth is,
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does he have the confidence of Congress?
REPUBLICAN PHILLIPS: That we have a culture of silence? No, we don’t. In fact, I just wrote an op-ed that’s in the Wall Street Journal today, calling for a vote of confidence among my colleagues, a secret ballot, because many of them are afraid of being punished if they tell the truth, which is what’s happening in this environment. It’s disgusting. A secret ballot, when we come back here this week to present the Congress’ position privately to the president, would be helpful, I think, because either he doesn’t know the truth or those around him have failed in their national duty to share the truth with him.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We need to take a break, but stay with us. We want to continue this conversation on the other side.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome to Face The Nation. We’re back with Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota. Congressman, you just said that you believe the president no longer has the confidence of the majority of Congress. Before you were elected, Republicans held Minnesota’s Third District for 60 years. You’re not running for reelection in that district. What would be the scenario that you’re describing? Do you think Congress would come under Republican control? That’s not just that seat, but the Congress, the Senate, and the House of Representatives?
REPUBLICAN PHILLIPS: I think so. And in fact, I think that’s one of the reasons we’re seeing this massive shift right now is that it’s in my colleagues’ backyard. They’re seeing their numbers decline precipitously, the top of the list of the most important districts in the country. And to your point, I want a district that hasn’t voted for a Democrat in 60 years. Some of us know how to re-invite independents. “Never Trump Republicans,” Democrats used imposition, not invitation. And I think my colleagues recognize that, unfortunately, a man that we love, Joe Biden, is going to take down this whole ticket, it’s not just about the White House. And if Democrats don’t keep the Senate or take back the House, I think that’s going to be a real problem for this country and for the future. And the answer is absolutely, and it’s a pervasive sentiment, and it’s real.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When you were thinking about running in the primary, you said you reached out to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. You tried to get them to run, but they chose not to, and then you jumped at the chance. Would you consider running them or advocating for them now?
REPUBLICAN PHILLIPS: Right. What I want to see, Margaret, is for the president to pass the torch, like everybody else is using it, and then have a mini primary. That’s exactly what I asked for a year ago. It’s not too late. Is this the right time? No, not at all. We have three weeks to have four town hall meetings in every region of the country, invite the best and brightest Democrats, including those, Governor Beshear, I think, Joe Manchin, of course, Vice President Harris, to introduce themselves to the country, create energy and enthusiasm for the delegates, bring together the 3,000 or 4,000 people who will make the decision in Chicago in August. You know, this idea that it could be disastrous if we went to some kind of organized convention or if we had a contest, the disaster is here, now. The question is whether the Democrats want to win. If so, the names you just mentioned, many others. Let us have a thoughtful competitive spirit and show a great contrast with a criminal Republican of the past and a dynamic Democrat for the future. It is not too late.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What was the price for speaking out against Joe Biden? You paid a price.
REPUBLIC PHILLIPS: Yes, my career in Congress is over. Let that be, it’s a small price to pay for the country. Colleagues who have come out have received veiled, implicit and explicit threats to their campaigns.
MARGARET BRENNAN: From whom?
REPUBLIC PHILLIPS: I’m not going to get into the details of this industry, but this political-industrial complex, this duopoly, is a big part of our national problem. We need competition. Both parties stifle it, both parties suppress it, I’m not going to say that’s not a false equivalency. I’m not talking about values and principles, but it’s the truth. We need competition, we should be promoting the next generation, not diminishing them. I understand why so many people have to shut down because their careers are going to end. We have to start rewarding courage and punishing cowardice.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Phillips, thank you for sharing your views with us. We will respond to you as soon as possible.
