President Biden faced mounting pressure to step aside from the 2024 presidential race during a press conference following the NATO summit in Washington D.C. on Thursday night. Despite facing growing calls from both Democrats and Republicans, Biden asserted his determination to stay in the race. He maintained that he is fit to serve as president now and for the next four years. The calls for Biden to drop out of the race stem from concerns about his age and fitness for office, amplified by his recent disastrous debate performance.
Just moments after Biden concluded his press conference, Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, publicly called on the president to suspend his re-election campaign. Himes acknowledged Biden’s significant accomplishments and legacy but argued that the president should not risk his legacy by continuing the campaign. He cited the potential harm to American democracy that could result from a Donald Trump victory. Himes’ call is just the latest in a growing chorus of voices urging Biden to step aside. He is the 15th Democrat in the House of Representatives to call for the president to withdraw from the race.
However, Biden still enjoys the support of prominent Democratic leaders, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Despite the calls for him to step down, Biden remains committed to his re-election bid. The future of his campaign remains uncertain, but the pressure from within his own party is mounting, and the outcome of the 2024 election remains highly contested.
