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Join on Telegram Rabat – The New York Times editorial board has called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following a widely criticized debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
Published on Friday, the editorial described Biden’s exit as “the greatest public service” he could offer his nation.
The president’s performance in Thursday night’s debate left many leading Democrats anxious.
Biden appeared unsteady and occasionally struggled to complete his sentences, exacerbating concerns about his age and capacity to serve another term.
Despite some Democratic leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris, highlighting his “strong finish,” the initial reaction was overwhelmingly apprehensive.
The New York Times editorial board did not mince words in their critique. “The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant,” they wrote.
“He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to [Trump’s] provocations. He struggled to hold [Trump] accountable for his lies, his failures, and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence,” the editorial read.
Prominent columnist Thomas L. Friedman also weighed in, urging his “friend” Biden to step aside. “Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election,” Friedman wrote.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama supported Biden, acknowledging that “bad debate nights happen,” but warning about the broader stakes of the election.
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“This election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself,” Obama stated in a social media post.
Despite the criticism, Biden appeared more energetic and coherent during a campaign stop in North Carolina on Friday. He openly addressed the concerns about his debate performance, admitting, “I don’t walk as easily as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth.”
The New York Times is the first major U.S. newspaper to call for Biden’s withdrawal, but other influential publications have echoed similar sentiments.
The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and The Atlantic have all featured op-eds from leading columnists suggesting Biden step aside. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan went as far as to describe Biden’s continued candidacy as resembling “elder abuse.”
In response to the editorial, Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told CNN, “The last time Joe Biden lost the New York Times editorial board’s endorsement, it turned out pretty well for him.”
Current polls reflect a tight race between Biden and Trump. A New York Times/Siena poll conducted before the debate showed Trump with a three-point lead over Biden.
Additionally, RealClearPolling data indicates Trump is leading in six out of seven key battleground states.
