Calls for Joe Biden to suspend his 2024 United States presidential campaign
An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
influential democrats and major news outlets have called for President Joe Biden to suspend his 2024 United States presidential campaign following the first debate of the 2024 United States presidential election between incumbent President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, and presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
Background
Before the debate and throughout his presidency, there have been concerns about Biden's age.[1] When Biden first took office at the age of 78 on January 20, 2021, he immediately became the oldest person to have ever served as President of the United States,[2] and during the debate Biden was 81, while Trump had turned 78 years old weeks prior. Biden was described as being weak and frail[3] by some following the debate.
First presidential debate
The first debate between president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump was held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. EDT in CNN's studios at the Techwood Turner campus in Atlanta, Georgia. President Biden's debate performance was widely In the aftermath of the debate, many called for Biden to drop out of the presidential race to allow for a different Democratic candidate to be picked at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. A poll conducted by CBS News/YouGov found that 72% of voters did not believe Biden was capable of being president.[4][5] Some close to Biden have said that he appears cognitively worse than he did a year ago.[6]
Public support for President Biden to suspend his campaign
Democratic strategist James Carville and former 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidate Andrew Yang were the first notable Democrats to make those calls.[7][8] On July 2, U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democrat in Congress to publicly call for Biden to step aside as the party's nominee.[9] He was joined by Congressmembers Raúl Grijalva of Arizona on July 3, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts on July 4, Mike Quigley of Illinois on July 5 and Angie Craig of Minnesota on July 6.[10][11][12][13] On July 5, 2024, major Democratic donors, including billionaire Christy Walton, retired NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, billionaire Mike Novogratz, Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig and New York University professor Scott Galloway, published a letter urging President Biden to withdraw.[14]
Support for President Biden to continue
Biden has refuted any possibility of him dropping out, saying only "the Lord Almighty" could convince him to drop out in an interview with ABC News held on July 5, after the first debate. Biden further affirmed his intent on staying in the race at a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin.[15]
On July 5, Biden met with Democratic governors across the country with the majority saying he should also remain in the race.[16]
Conferences
The Washington Post reported that United States Senator Mark Warner of Virginia was attempting to assemble a group of Democratic Senators to pressure Biden to withdraw from the race.[17] On July 7, top Democrats, including minority house leader Hakeem Jeffries, held a rare party conference on the matter.[18]
- U.S. representatives
- Angie Craig, U.S. Representative from MN-02 (2019–present)[13]
- Lloyd Doggett, U.S. Representative from TX-37 (2023–present), former U.S. Representative from TX-35 (2013–2023), former U.S. Representative from TX-25 (2005–2012), former U.S. Representative from TX-10 (1995–2005)[9]
- Raúl Grijalva, U.S. Representative from AZ-07 (2023–present), former U.S. Representative from AZ-03 (2003–2023)[10]
- Seth Moulton, U.S. Representative from MA-06 (2015–present)[11]
- Tim Ryan, former U.S. Representative from OH-13 (2013–2023), former U.S. Representative from OH-17 (2003–2013)[19]
- Mike Quigley, U.S. Representative from IL-05 (2009–present)[12]
- Executive branch officials
- Julian Castro, former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama (2014–2017)[20]
- Notable individuals
- James Carville, Democratic political consultant[21]
- Abigail Disney, philanthropist and social activist[22]
- Thomas Friedman, three-time Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for The New York Times[23]
- Reed Hastings, co-founder and executive chairman of Netflix[24]
- David Ignatius, associate editor and columnist for The Washington Post[25]
- Nicholas Kristof, two-time Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for The New York Times[26]
- Paul Krugman, columnist for The New York Times[27]
- Mark Leibovich, staff writer at The Atlantic[28]
- Michael Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Investment Partners[14]
- Christy Walton, billionaire philanthropist[14]
- Marianne Williamson, candidate in the 2024 and the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries[29]
- Andrew Yang, candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary[8]
- Newspaper and magazine editorial boards
References
- ^ Faguy, Ana (June 30, 2024). "Biden allies defend president as poll suggests growing age concern". BBC News. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Helmore, Edward (November 20, 2020). "Happy birthday, Joe: 78-year-old Biden to be oldest US president to take office". The Guardian. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Morris, G; Rogers, Kaleigh (June 27, 2024). "Biden's biggest weakness -- his age -- on full display at debate: ANALYSIS". ABC News. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Waddick, Karissa. "More than 70% of voters say Biden doesn't have mental, cognitive health to serve, new poll says". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Salvanto, Anthony; Backus, Fred; Pinto, Jennifer De; Khanna, Kabir (July 1, 2024). "Increasing numbers of voters don't think Biden should be running after debate with Trump — CBS News poll". CBS News. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Abutaleb, Yasmeen; Dawsey, Josh; Sacchetti, Maria; Hudson, John; Diamond, Dan (July 6, 2024). "Biden's aging is seen as accelerating; lapses described as more common". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Allen, Mike; VandeHel, Jim (June 29, 2024). "Behind the Curtain: Biden oligarchy will decide fate". Axios. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "Former Candidate Andrew Yang Says #SwapJoeOut". Wall Street Journal. June 27, 2024. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Miller, Maya C.; Edmondson, Catie (July 2, 2024). "Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Progressive, Cracks the Democratic Dam for Biden". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Schnell, Mychael (July 3, 2024). "Second House Democrat calls for Biden to withdraw from presidential race". The Hill. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Suter, Tara (July 4, 2024). "Third House Democrat says Biden should bow out of presidential race". The Hill. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Irwin, Laura (July 5, 2024). "Illinois Democrat becomes latest House member to call on Biden to exit race". The Hill. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Nace, Aki (July 6, 2024). "Rep. Angie Craig calls on Biden to drop out of 2024 presidential race". CBS News. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c Scherer, Michael (July 5, 2024). "Business leaders, pro-Democracy activists send letter asking Biden to withdraw". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Long, Colleen; Kim, Seung Min (July 5, 2024). "Biden dismisses age questions in interview as he tries to salvage reelection effort". Associated Press. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Long, Colleen; Kim, Seung Min (July 5, 2024). "Biden dismisses age questions in interview as he tries to salvage reelection effort". Associated Press. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Caldwell, Leigh Ann; Goodwin, Liz (July 5, 2024). "Sen. Mark Warner works to gather Senate Democrats to ask Biden to exit race". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Schnell, Mychael. "Senior House Democrats say Biden should step aside during private call". The Hill. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Barber, Rachel (July 2, 2024). "Former Rep. Tim Ryan comes out against Biden, says Harris should take his place". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Barber, Rachel (July 2, 2024). "Former Rep. Tim Ryan comes out against Biden, says Harris should take his place". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Berry, Jason (July 2, 2024). "James Carville calls on Democratic party to 'deliver change' and replace Biden". The Guardian. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Schwartz, Brian (July 4, 2024). "Disney heiress, wealthy Democratic donors say they won't finance the party until Joe Biden drops out". CNBC.
- ^ Robertson, Nick (July 3, 2024). "NYT's Friedman: Biden needs to ask himself if Trump wants him to stay in race". The Hill. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Schleifer, Theodore (July 3, 2024). "Netflix Co-Founder Becomes One of the Biggest Democratic Donors to Call for Biden to Step Aside". NY Times. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Harris, John F. (June 29, 2024). "The Media Establishment Lays on the Horn: Joe Must Go". Politico. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Wilkens, Kathryn (July 5, 2024). "New York Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof on Why Biden Should Drop Out: 'I Think We Can Get a President Who Is Coherent in the Evenings'". Mediaite. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Ladden-Hill, Dan (June 28, 2024). "The New York Times Columnists Biden Cares About Tell Him to Go". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Senter, Irie (June 28, 2024). "'This can't continue': Biden-sympathizing columnists urge him to step aside". Politico. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Irwin, Lauren (July 6, 2024). "Marianne Williamson presses Biden to withdraw: 'We need to recalibrate quickly'". The Hill.
- ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (June 30, 2024). "AJC editorial board calls for Biden to exit presidential race". The Hill. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Garrity, Kelly (July 3, 2024). "Boston Globe editorial board calls on Biden to end his campaign". Politico. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Barber, Rachel (July 1, 2024). "Major newspapers call for Biden to drop out after debate". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Robertson, Nick (June 30, 2024). "These major media outlets have called for Biden to drop out". The Hill. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
- ^ Gecsoyler, Sammy (June 29, 2024). "New York Times urges Joe Biden to drop out of presidential race". The Guardian. Retrieved July 6, 2024.