Democratic leaders ask Biden to withdraw from presidential race
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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer spoke with US President Joe Biden, urging him to withdraw from the presidential race while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly made a similar request, according to ABC News.
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US President Joe Biden speaks at the 115th NAACP National Convention in Las Vegas, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)
US President Joe Biden received requests from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to withdraw from the presidential race, as revealed by ABC News.
According to ABC News, Chuck Schumer spoke directly with Biden, strongly urging him to exit the race. Hakeem Jeffries is claimed to have later made a similar request.
This comes after Biden, in a message to Democrats last week, stated it was time to "end the talk" about withdrawing from the presidential race. According to Axios, Biden said he had "intense discussions with party leadership, elected officials, and grassroots members, and most importantly, with Democratic voters, over the past 10 days," acknowledging the concerns people have raised.
Biden confirmed his candidacy, expressing his conviction that he is the best person to defeat Donald Trump. He stated his strong commitment to staying in the race, noting that "the question of how to move forward has been well posed for over a week now. It's time to end it."
Lawmakers told Axios they expect calls for Biden to withdraw to increase once Congress returns to session, viewing Biden's message as a clear attempt to suppress these calls before they gain momentum.
So far, at least five Democratic members of the House have publicly called for Biden to withdraw, with more Democrats privately expressing the view that Biden "needs to step down." A larger group has voiced concerns about his ability to face Trump.
This follows a disastrous debate between Biden and Trump a few days ago, in which Biden's performance was described as "weak." The current president stumbled and paused frequently, failing to articulate his thoughts clearly. At the end of the event, television cameras captured his wife, Jill Biden, helping him down the stairs, raising many questions about his re-election, according to American media.
Separately, the White House announced last night that Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms.
The White House confirmed that Biden will return to his residence in Delaware, where he will isolate and continue performing all his duties fully during this period. Regular updates on the president's condition will be provided while he remains in quarantine.
Additionally, the White House announced the cancellation of Biden's scheduled speech in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to his COVID-19 diagnosis.
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