CNN’s Jessica Dean put it plainly to Rep. Ro Khanna: Is Joe Biden’s return to the spotlight actually helpful to Democrats? The answer, despite Khanna’s best efforts to redirect, was a resounding “not really.”

Biden’s scheduled speech in Chicago — his first public address since leaving the White House — was meant to boost Democratic messaging on Social Security. But it’s already raising eyebrows inside his own party. Khanna, rather than expressing excitement, pivoted hard to attack the Trump administration for deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 member. The congressman’s refusal to endorse Biden’s speech as politically helpful said more than he likely intended.

Khanna’s only defense of Biden? That “he’s a former president” and “can speak.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

The backdrop for Biden’s re-emergence couldn’t be worse. His mental acuity continues to dominate headlines, with two damaging books hitting shelves this spring. Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House dropped earlier this month, and Original Sin, a takedown of Biden’s decline and decision to run again, is set for release in May. The timing of his return speech — while facing this kind of scrutiny — seems less like a strategic move and more like a Hail Mary.

Democrats aren’t exactly lining up to welcome him back. NewsNation’s Chris Cillizza predicted that by the end of May, Biden would be “someone that no one wants around.” He flatly stated that “no one’s clamoring to have Joe Biden campaign for them right now.”

That’s a stunning reversal for a man who, less than four years ago, was supposed to be the stabilizing figure to unify the party and restore normalcy. Instead, he’s become a political liability. Even his most loyal allies are struggling to explain what he brings to the table beyond nostalgic name recognition and a frail connection to the Obama years.

According to NBC News, Biden is still trying to insert himself into the 2025 election cycle — fundraising, meeting with DNC officials, and pledging to campaign for down-ballot Democrats. But as Khanna’s dodge makes clear, many Democrats would prefer he stay in the shadows. The problem? Biden doesn’t seem to be getting the hint.

The former president’s appearance on the campaign trail comes just as Trump is surging in national polls, pushing forward with an aggressive domestic agenda and dominating headlines with bold executive actions. Biden, by contrast, remains mired in questions about cognitive health, policy failures, and a legacy that even many in his own party are eager to move past.

Khanna, to his credit, tried to steer the conversation back toward criticizing Trump’s immigration policies — including the controversial deportation of Abrego, whose return the Supreme Court suggested should be “facilitated.” But that topic isn’t what has Democrats sweating. It’s Biden.

The Democratic Party’s future is at stake, and the man who was once its standard bearer may now be its greatest liability. His Chicago speech might be billed as a comeback — but for many Democrats, it’s more like a warning flare.