President Biden is facing mounting pressure from prominent media figures and allies to exit the Democratic presidential race, citing concerns about his age and mental acuity. However, few have explicitly called for him to step down as president despite concerns about his fitness to serve.
Amidst mounting criticism, President Biden is facing calls from influential figures in the media to abandon his bid for re-election in 2024. Several journalists, columnists, and network personalities have expressed concerns about the president's age and mental agility, questioning his ability to handle the demands of the office. However, notably, most have refrained from demanding Biden's resignation as president.
Biden's Decline: Media Figures Call for Departure, But Stop Short of Demanding Resignation
Among those calling for Biden to withdraw from the race is liberal journalist Jonathan Alter, who believes the Democrats need a different nominee to defeat former President Donald Trump. Alter has argued that Biden is "too old to serve" and that the party should hold an open convention to select a new candidate.
Maureen Dowd of The New York Times has also criticized Biden's age and performance, comparing him to former President Trump and accusing him of putting his own interests ahead of the country. Dowd has suggested that Biden is "clearly declining" and has questioned his fitness to remain in office.
Biden's Decline: Media Figures Call for Departure, But Stop Short of Demanding Resignation
Close friend and supporter Tom Friedman has also joined the chorus of voices urging Biden not to run for re-election. In a recent column for The New York Times, Friedman described Biden's debate performance as "heartbreaking" and called on him to step aside to give the Democrats a better chance of defeating Trump.
Nicholas Kristof and Paul Krugman, fellow New York Times columnists, have also expressed concerns about Biden's fitness for office. They have praised his presidency as a progressive success but have argued that he should not seek a second term.
Biden's Decline: Media Figures Call for Departure, But Stop Short of Demanding Resignation
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius has previously written that Biden should not run again in 2024, citing concerns about his age and the need for a new beginning.
"Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough, while professing his love for Biden, has also questioned the president's ability to run for re-election after his debate performance. Scarborough compared Biden's performance to that of a CEO and doubted whether he would be retained if he led a corporation.
Biden's Decline: Media Figures Call for Departure, But Stop Short of Demanding Resignation
Fellow "Morning Joe" guest Donny Deutsch expressed similar concerns, stating that while he believes Biden is a great man, he does not believe he is the best choice for the Democrats in 2024.
Even some of Biden's supporters on ABC's "The View" have suggested that it may be time for him to step aside. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official, expressed shock at Biden's debate performance and called on him to "step aside and pass the baton."
Biden's Decline: Media Figures Call for Departure, But Stop Short of Demanding Resignation
Liberal columnist Jill Filipovic has called on First Lady Jill Biden to use her influence to remove the president from the race.
Other prominent figures who have expressed concerns about Biden's age and performance include David Remnick of The New Yorker, who believes Biden's continued candidacy puts democracy at risk, and CNN's Dana Bash, who has questioned whether Biden is "up to the challenge" of another presidential term.
While many media figures and allies have called for Biden to exit the presidential race, few have explicitly demanded his resignation as president. Despite concerns about his fitness to serve, there appears to be a reluctance to push for such a dramatic step at this time.
