US President Joe Biden’s recent announcement of his decision not to seek re-election in November has sparked growing pressure from critics for him to step down before the end of his term, which concludes in January. The president stated that he intends to serve out the remainder of his term, but this declaration has been met with skepticism and concern by many Republican lawmakers and pundits.
Shortly after Biden’s announcement on Sunday, Rep. Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, accused Democrats of deceiving the American public. He argued that if President Biden lacks the mental capacity to run for re-election, he is unfit to continue serving as president during the remainder of his term.
This is a scandal of historic proportions. President Biden is incapacitated, Democrats knew, and they lied to the American people to cover it up. If Biden is mentally unfit to campaign, he is mentally unfit to have the nuclear codes,” Hudson wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson shared a similar sentiment, describing the situation as an “unprecedented juncture in American history” and urging President Biden to resign immediately. If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president. He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough,” Johnson stated in a press release. The speaker also criticized the Democrats’ prospects with Vice President Kamala Harris, asserting that their chances of success are “no better” under her leadership.
A slew of Republican lawmakers have joined the call for Biden’s resignation. Among those demanding the president relinquish the office are Florida Senator Rick Scott, Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise, and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York. These politicians argue that if President Biden is unfit to run for re-election due to mental incapacity, he is also unable to effectively lead the country as its commander-in-chief.
Earlier in the day, before Biden made his announcement, Ohio Senator and former Trump running mate J.D. Vance questioned how the president could justify remaining in office if he were to withdraw from the race. Not running for re-election would be a clear admission that President Trump was right all along about Biden not being mentally fit enough to serve as Commander-in-Chief. There is no middle ground,” Vance wrote in a statement addressing the issue.
As criticism continues to mount, it remains to be seen whether President Joe Biden will yield to the pressure from Republican lawmakers and step down before the completion of his term in January.