The White House has responded to the New York Times‘ editorial board’s scathing criticism of President Joe Biden’s debate performance, urging him to drop out of the race. The board claimed that Biden’s embarrassing showing would be catastrophic for the country and that his departure would be the best chance to protect the nation’s soul.
However, Biden’s team has pushed back against the Times‘ criticism, with Biden’s campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond stating that the publication’s endorsement of Biden in the past did not ultimately affect the outcome of the election.
In his first public appearance after the debate, Biden acknowledged that he was not as sharp as he used to be, saying, “I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to.” He added, “I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up.”
Even former President Barack Obama, who served alongside Biden, conceded that his former vice president’s debate skills were lacking, writing on social media, “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know.”
The New York Times was not the only mainstream publication to call for Biden’s departure. The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial board also published a scathing opinion piece, titled “Democrats Can’t Avoid the Biden Problem,” which stated, “The debate showed the President clearly isn’t up to four more years in office.”
Other columnists, including Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic, also called for Biden to step aside, arguing that his poor debate performance was a sign that he was no longer fit for office.
A Financial Times opinion piece, written by columnist Edward Luce, also urged Biden to consider dropping out, stating, “It is not too late for Joe Biden to go.” Luce argued that the Democratic Party would be better off with a new candidate.
Despite the mounting criticism, Biden has shown no signs of considering dropping out of the race.
[…] Biden’s Team Fires Back at New York Times’ Call for Him to Drop Out […]