Joe Biden's Press Conference Fails as Multiple Democrats Say 'Step Aside'
NewsweekJul 18
Clooney, Democratic Senators Put Pressure on Biden
Above: US President Joe Biden delivers remarks at a reception for the 2022 Kennedy Center honorees at the White House on Dec. 04, 2022 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kevin Dietsch/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Pres. Joe Biden's bid to run for re-election suffered a fresh blow on Wednesday after Hollywood actor and donor George Clooney urged him to step aside and veteran Democratic lawmaker and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on him to make a "decision."
In a New York Times opinion piece, Clooney said that he considers Biden a friend but that the Biden he witnessed at last month's fundraiser was not the Biden of 2010 or 2020. He added, "He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate."
The Spin
Narrative A
It's not movie stars and their money that should decide which candidate runs for the US presidency. Moreover, democratic party leaders have reassured their support for Biden as they know he is the best choice to beat Trump. Talk of a Biden pullout is counterproductive as the election is fast approaching, and any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only plays into Trump's hands. Now is the time for Democrats to unite and fight as a united party.
Narrative B
At 81, Biden is no longer up to the challenges of running for the White House and should drop out of the race sooner rather than later to save the US from Trump and his extremist agenda. Biden is highly respected among Democrats, and he is the one who reunited the party, laying the groundwork to beat Trump. Biden has served the US for decades and has been an outstanding president, and stepping aside now is the best way to preserve his legacy.
Republican narrative
The Democratic Party has no one to blame for its recent political dysfunction but itself. Biden's horrific debate performance has snowballed into in-party fighting, and polling has consistently suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris is even less popular than the president. Democrats set up this implosion due to their own poor planning — Trump and the GOP will reap the benefits of this turmoil in November.