The Washington Examiner reports that former President Barrack Obama is concerned about President Joe Biden's reelection chances. 

Per the outlet:

Former President Barack Obama reportedly is concerned about Biden’s complacency, especially as polls show him fading further to former President Donald Trump. And many Americans think Obama is Biden’s puppet master.

The Examiner did not identify the source of this claim - that Obama is worried about Biden's complacency.

It is likely, however, that the Examiner is referring to a report, published earlier this month, by the Washington Post. 

Obama's worry

The Post's report, which was published on Jan. 6, 2024, is titled, Obama, worried about Trump, urges Biden circle to bolster campaign. The Post's report is said to be based on sources who are familiar with a conversation that Obama and Biden had at the White House.

The Post reports:

Obama grew “animated” in discussing the 2024 election and former president Donald Trump’s potential return to power, one of the people said, and has suggested to Biden’s advisers that the campaign needs more top-level decision-makers at its headquarters in Wilmington, Del. — or it must empower the people already in place. Obama has not recommended specific individuals . . .

Obama, apparently, suggested to Biden that he needs to take a page out of Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, by having some of his White House aides leave the administration and focus on his reelection. Obama, according to the outlet, also told Biden to "seek counsel from Obama’s own former campaign aides."

The Post then goes on to report, "Obama has been even more explicit with people close to Biden, suggesting the campaign needs to move aggressively as Trump appears poised to quickly wrap up the Republican nomination."

The outlet later reports, "Obama has long harbored worries about Trump’s political strength, telling Biden during a different private lunch last summer that Trump is a more formidable candidate than many Democrats realize."

Obama is right

There are not many things that Republicans will agree with Obama about, but this is one of them, namely, that Biden is in trouble.

Trump is leading Biden in many general election polls, including, importantly, general election polls for swing states. Real Clear Politics currently has Trump beating Biden in the general election by, on average, 4.3 percentage points. This is Trump's biggest lead yet, and it seems only to be growing.

This, however, is only part of the problem for Biden. Fox News reports:

Gallup released a report on Thursday regarding the president's job approval rating through 2023, noting his third-year performance was rated lower than any other president's since Jimmy Carter. Gallup's examination of data from a dozen polls found Biden has an average approval rating of 39.8%.

Carter, of course, got decimated when he ran for reelection, and many believe that Biden is headed toward a similar fate.

So, Obama is correct: Biden is in some serious trouble.