Former Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) used one of his last days in office to encourage Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) to run for office in 2020.
Warren is known to be a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, saying on Monday that he is "obviously failing as president."
Reid, 75, retired from Congress after a long career beginning when he won a seat in the House in 1983. After the 2016 Presidential election and shortly before his last day in office, Reid called Warren into this office, The New York Times reported on Monday.
"Shortly before Thanksgiving, he summoned Warren to the minority leader’s office. When she arrived, the room was littered with art supplies; on an easel was a half-finished portrait of Reid that would be unveiled at his retirement party the following month," The Times reported.
The former Senate Minority Leader reportedly encouraged Warren to run for the Presidential election in 2020, telling her she needed to seriously think about it.
After Donald Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton, Reid was concerned. He wanted to make it clear Democrats were willing to fight back.
"He was worried in November," Warren told colleague Senator Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.). "For me, it was so important to make clear: We will fight back — we will fight back. We’re not here to make this normal."
Many other publications have speculated that Sen. Warren is gearing up for a 2020 Presidential run.
Warren is fairly new to Washington, joining the upper chamber in 2013, The Hill noted. But she has taken no time in playing a key role in trying to halt Trump's cabinet member confirmations, and was plastered across social media with the Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) quote, "Nevertheless, she persisted," after she was blocked from speaking at Attorney General Jeff Sessions' confirmation hearing in February.