New York Times calls for Biden to drop out of 2024 presidential race

US President Joe Biden is facing increased pressure as the esteemed New York Times Editorial Board has called on him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following his lackluster performance in the recent CNN debate against Donald Trump.

The opinion piece, published on Friday, highlighted Biden’s struggles during the debate, where he appeared to falter, having difficulty articulating his plans for a second term, responding to Trump’s provocations, and holding Trump accountable for his past actions.

The editorial said: “The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trump’s provocations. He struggled to hold Mr. 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 board suggested that Biden’s withdrawal would be the greatest public service he could perform, arguing that the Democratic Party has leaders better suited to offer clear, compelling, and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency.

The piece emphasized the risk to the country’s stability and security by forcing voters to choose between Trump’s deficiencies and Biden’s visible age-related struggles.

Despite its critique, the newspaper said it would still support Biden if the final choice remains between him and Trump.

In response to the editorial, Biden campaign Co-Chair Cedric Richmond said that losing the New York Times endorsement in 2020 did not prevent Biden from winning the presidency.

In 2020, the New York Times endorsed Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren in the Democratic primary, a decision that did not hinder Biden’s success.

In an interview with CNN, the Biden Campaign Co-Chair Mitch Landrieu expressed “100% confidence” in Biden, affirming that the decision to continue running is Biden’s alone.

Earlier in the day, the leading New York Times columnist Thomas L Friedman called on his “friend” to step aside. “Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election,” he said.

The former US president Barack Obama defended Biden in a social media post on Friday. “Bad debate nights happen,” he said. “But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself.”

The debate performance has raised concerns among top Democrats, with some openly questioning Biden’s capability to lead the Democratic ticket.

Following the debate, longtime Democratic operative and CNN Senior Political Commentator David Axelrod said: “He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on. But by that time, I think the panic had set in.”

MSNBC anchor Alex Wagner also criticized Biden’s performance, saying it reinforced negative perceptions about his age and capability.

In a campaign stop in North Carolina following the debate, Biden appeared more energetic and acknowledged his debate shortcomings.

“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,” he said.

Other major publications have also published opinions urging Biden to step aside. Columnists from the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and the Atlantic have echoed similar sentiments.

Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan suggested that allowing Biden to continue “looks like elder abuse.”

Currently, Biden and Trump are nearly tied in national polls for the upcoming November election. A recent New York Times/Sienna poll indicated Trump leading by three points, with RealClearPolling showing Trump ahead in six out of seven crucial battleground states.