Hollywood joins Democrats in calling for Biden to drop from race
5 Min Read
Biden is not the same person he was in 2010 or even 2020, George Clooney wrote in an op-ed in the New York Times.
-
President Joe Biden at the White House, on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
Hollywood joins the call for President Joe Biden to withdraw his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections, with actor George Clooney publishing an op-ed to the New York Times on Wednesday expressing the need for a new Democratic nominee.
Clooney is one of the prominent fundraisers for the Democratic party, hosting an event last month that boosted Biden's presidential campaign by over $30 million. However, in his op-ed, he expressed his concern for the current president's health following his faltered performance at the first debate.
"It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate," Clooney wrote, adding, "This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor who I’ve spoken with in private."
Former Democrat advisor, ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who interviewed Clooney, was caught on camera saying that Biden cannot serve for another four years.
In an interview with Stephanopoulos, Biden stated that only "God Almighty" could convince him to end his presidential run, while ordering Democrats to get in line despite their appeal to end his bid.
House Democrat call for Biden's candidacy withdrawal
United States Representative Mikie Sherrill called for Biden's withdrawal from the presidential elections following a meeting on Tuesday morning, becoming the ninth House Democrat to take this action this week.
"The stakes are too high — and the threat is too real — to stay silent," Sherrill said in a statement, adding that Biden should refocus his efforts toward appointing a new Democratic candidate.
Sherrill also expressed her admiration for Biden and his administration for being "true public servants" and highlighted her confidence in the President's care for the country's future, while urging him to step down from his candidacy.
Concerns regarding Biden's ability and age to defeat Republican candidate Donald Trump were raised by several lawmakers during the closed-door House Democrat meeting, NBC News reported, citing sources in the room.
In a public letter addressed to congressional Democrats on Monday, Biden stated he would not be dropping out of the race, adding, "The voters have spoken clearly and decisively."
This comes as several Democratic lawmakers have retracted their support for the current president, such as Rep. Jerry Nadler, who urged Biden to step down during a phone call on Sunday.
Sen. Michael Bennet stated in an interview for CNN on Tuesday that he does not think Biden can defeat Trump in the upcoming elections, adding Democrats could potentially lose their power in the House, Senate, and the White House.
"Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election and maybe win it by a landslide, and take with him the Senate and the House," Bennet said. "So for me, this isn’t a question about polling. It’s not a question about politics. It’s a moral question about the future of our country, and I think it’s critically important for us to come to grips with what we face if together, we put this country on the path of electing Donald Trump again."
25 House Democrats preparing to call for Biden to step aside
Some elected Democrats who support Biden raised new concerns on July 2 about his campaign for re-election in 2024, with one suggesting he should consider stepping down. This marks a change after many had previously defended him following his uncertain performance in the first presidential debate.
According to Democrats and political strategists, the decision whether Biden proceeds with his 2024 presidential bid, following his less-than-stellar debate against Republican candidate Donald Trump, largely rests with him.
Some donors are urging Biden to consider stepping down, and other Democrats are openly expressing concerns that he may not be capable of defeating Trump in November.
According to one House Democratic aide, 25 Democratic members of the House of Representatives are ready to call for Biden to step aside if his performance continues to falter in the coming days. Another House Democratic aide mentioned that moderate Democrats in competitive districts, often referred to as "frontliners", are facing intense scrutiny and questions from their constituents this week.
After the debate, a Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that one-third of Democrats believe Biden should halt his re-election campaign. US Representative Lloyd Doggett became the initial congressional Democrat to advocate for Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race on July 2. In an interview for NBC News, he expressed his wish for other Democratic legislators to join him in this stance.
