United States President Joe Biden is facing escalating pressure to withdraw from the upcoming presidential election amid mounting doubts about his physical and mental capabilities to effectively lead the country, particularly against Republican challenger Donald Trump.
During a pivotal news conference held on Thursday, Biden, 81, maintained a resolute stance, asserting his unparalleled qualifications to defeat Trump and adamantly refusing to abandon his bid.
While Biden presented a coherent defense of his administration's achievements both domestically and internationally, his remarks were punctuated by several verbal slips, including mistakenly referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as Vice President Trump.
Following Biden's latest public appearance, an additional three elected Democrats have joined a growing chorus of allies urging him to step aside, despite the majority of the Democratic Party outwardly supporting his candidacy.
Among those calling for Biden to withdraw are 17 House Democrats, with Eric Sorensen of Illinois becoming the latest to voice his concerns. Sorensen emphasized Biden's previous commitment to putting the country ahead of partisan interests, urging him to uphold that principle once more.
The list of House Democrats advocating for Biden's replacement includes Jim Himes (Connecticut), Scott Peters (California), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington), Greg Stanton (Arizona), Raul Grijalva (Texas), Mike Quigley (Illinois), Angie Craig (Minnesota), Adam Smith (Washington), Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey), Seth Moulton (Massachusetts), Pat Ryan (New York), Earl Blumenauer (Oregon), Hillary Scholten (Michigan), Brad Schneider (Illinois), and Ed Case (Hawaii).
In a significant move, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont became the first and thus far the sole US senator to publicly call for Biden's withdrawal, citing the decision as being in the best interest of the nation.
Despite public statements of support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other prominent Senate Democrats, media reports suggest that Schumer's backing may be wavering.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has refrained from definitively endorsing Biden's candidacy in recent television interviews, suggesting that the president should make a prompt decision regarding his campaign, despite his repeated assertions of staying in the race.
Democratic governors, while refraining from directly calling for Biden's resignation, have expressed reservations about his health and electoral viability. Figures like Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), JB Pritzker (Illinois), and Maura Healey (Massachusetts) have voiced concerns in this regard.
At the state level, New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado has become the first deputy leader to publicly advocate for Biden's withdrawal.
Biden's presidential bid has also seen a decline in support from major Democratic donors, including Abigail Disney, Damon Lindelof, Gideon Stein, Reed Hastings, and Rick Caruso, who have all pledged to withhold financial contributions until he steps aside.
In a notable opinion piece published in The New York Times, longtime Democratic supporter George Clooney urged Biden to exit the race, recounting firsthand observations of the president's decline during a recent fundraiser.
Other prominent figures in entertainment and media, such as Stephen King, Michael Moore, Rob Reiner, John Cusack, and Sara Haines, have also publicly advocated for Biden's withdrawal, citing concerns over his ability to effectively lead.
While stopping short of calling for Biden's resignation, late-night TV host Jon Stewart has emphasized the importance of initiating discussions on the matter.
The escalating calls for Biden's withdrawal come amid heightened uncertainty within the Democratic Party over his prospects in the face of Republican opposition, particularly given concerns raised over his debate performance and ongoing challenges within his administration.
