Political pundit Van Jones says President Biden should 'stay hidden' if he wants to win 2024 election 'because he doesn't inspire confidence' as Trump secures resounding New Hampshire victory
- Comes as Biden looks to shake up campaign structure with new key advisors
- Biden and Trump stay close in the polls after last night's New Hampshire result
Liberal commentator Van Jones said President Joe Biden should stay out of the limelight if he hopes to win the upcoming election because he 'doesn't inspire confidence'.
The CNN contributor and political analyst shocked a panel with his damning comments after Trump's victory in the New Hampshire primary late Tuesday, urging the incumbent president to stay out of view and avoid weakening his campaign.
'If I were Biden... I would stay hidden,' he said. 'He doesn't inspire confidence. And he's not a great messenger for himself. He has done a tremendous job for this economy. Union members, union leaders… are racking up win after win; they should be put forward.'
Jones, formerly a Special Advisor to Barack Obama, told the panel there was 'something wrong with this campaign' if 'we're somehow expecting Joe Biden, who frankly hid during the last campaign, to come out now and be Flash Gordon and save his own campaign'.
Instead, he said, the people benefitting most from the Biden economy, 'should be empowered to speak'.
![Donald Trump celebrates on stage during his primary night rally at the Sheraton on January 23 in Nashua, New Hampshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/08/80398407-13000015-image-a-1_1706085637642.jpg)
Donald Trump celebrates on stage during his primary night rally at the Sheraton on January 23 in Nashua, New Hampshire
![President Joe Biden speaks during the reproductive freedom campaign rally at George Mason University in Manassas, Virginia, on January 23, 2024](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/08/80398381-13000015-image-a-2_1706085713122.jpg)
President Joe Biden speaks during the reproductive freedom campaign rally at George Mason University in Manassas, Virginia, on January 23, 2024
![Van Jones attends the Los Angeles Red Carpet Premiere Event for Hulu's "The 1619 Project" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/08/80398361-13000015-image-a-3_1706086702441.jpg)
Van Jones attends the Los Angeles Red Carpet Premiere Event for Hulu's "The 1619 Project" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California
In light of Trump's victory, Biden will now look to shake up his campaign structure and targeting of attacks on Trump.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jennifer O'Malley Dillon and Mike Donilon, both longtime trusted advisors to Biden, are moving to help Biden as polls show the both held in a tight race to the November 5 election.
Biden touted both in a statement where he said he was 'grateful that in rejoining the campaign, they are stepping up one more time to ensure we finish the job for the American people.'
The move followed calls by prominent Democrats including former President Obama to mine some of the existing talent at the White House to build up Biden's campaign operation in Wilmington, Delaware.
Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez will stay in post, but it is not yet clear how the roles will operate.
O'Malley Dillon ran Biden's successful 2020 effort, when the campaign had to reinvent itself on the fly due to the pandemic.
Donilon is a longtime trusted advisor. Both regularly travel with the president.
Trump, meanwhile, came out on top in New Hampshire, beating Nikki Haley to become the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New Hampshire since they started leading the election calendar in 1976.
Bookmakers now say The Donald's chances of returning to the White House have reached an all-time high, with more bets taken on Michelle Obama than Joe Biden.
Still, Betfair Exchange gives Biden 1/4 odds of being the Democratic nominee, ahead off the former first lady at 12/1, Gavin Newsom at 17/1 and Kamala Harris at just 41/1.
Trump still faces legal challenges as he pulls together his campaign in the run up to the election.
Among them, the former president still faces charges that he attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, to go to trial in March.
In December, Maine and Colorado also disqualified Trump from the respective state primary ballots over his role in the attack on the Capitol in 2021.
![Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley walks on stage to address supporters during a New Hampshire Primary night rally, in Concord, New Hampshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/09/80399157-13000015-image-a-6_1706087025402.jpg)
Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley walks on stage to address supporters during a New Hampshire Primary night rally, in Concord, New Hampshire
![CNN's Van Jones said the beneficiaries of Biden's economy should be given space to speak - as Biden took to X, formerly Twitter, to respond to Trump himself on Tuesday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/09/80399367-13000015-image-a-21_1706087371634.jpg)
CNN's Van Jones said the beneficiaries of Biden's economy should be given space to speak - as Biden took to X, formerly Twitter, to respond to Trump himself on Tuesday
![Ron DeSantis withdrew from his campaign on Sunday and endorsed Donald Trump](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/24/09/80399109-13000015-image-a-4_1706086930205.jpg)
Ron DeSantis withdrew from his campaign on Sunday and endorsed Donald Trump
Last night's result did not deter Nikki Haley, despite the major setback it represents to her campaign.
The 2024 hopeful said the battle was 'far from over' and she is a 'scrappy fighter' who is 'just getting started'.
Haley was betting on performing better in New Hampshire after a disappointing third place finish in Iowa's caucuses last week – but again came up short.
Other Republican candidates have shown less willing to run against Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis withdrawing and endorsing Trump on Sunday.