Joe Biden’s Press Conference Fails to Silence Critics Within Democratic Party
In a recent press conference, Joe Biden insisted that he was still fit to run for US president, but his words have failed to silence critics within his own party. Three Democratic politicians have joined the growing list calling on Mr. Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
Calls for the 81-year-old to step aside have escalated since he stumbled through a TV debate with Republican Donald Trump last month. Despite an hour-long briefing where he appeared more steady and fluent, there were still gaffes, including mistakenly referring to his deputy, Kamala Harris, as “Vice President Trump.”
The pressure on Mr. Biden’s candidacy continues to mount, with some donors, including Hollywood actor George Clooney, pulling their financial support, citing concerns about his competency for another four-year term. One Democratic fundraiser expressed that while Mr. Biden did okay at the news conference, it was not enough to change minds.
Moving forward, Mr. Biden will face intense scrutiny at every event, with any slip or mistake being seized on as evidence that he is unfit to run for a second term. Several Democratic politicians, including Connecticut congressman Jim Himes, Illinois congressman Eric Sorensen, and California congressman Scott Peters, have called on Mr. Biden to end his candidacy, bringing the tally of those urging him to step down to 19.
During the briefing, Biden reiterated his commitment to completing the job, stating, “If I slow down and can’t get the job done, that’s a sign I shouldn’t be doing it.” Despite the criticism, many of his supporters in Congress believe he is the best candidate for the job.
US allies, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, have voiced their support for Mr. Biden, with Macron dismissing the mistakes as mere slips of the tongue. However, former President Donald Trump wasted no time in mocking Mr. Biden for his gaffes, highlighting the challenges he faces in the race ahead.
