Top House Democrat Demands Biden Withdraw Following Press Conference - 'Make Way For A New Generation Of Leaders'

Following President Joe Biden's press conference at the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, several House Democrats called on the president to withdraw from the presidential race, including the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. The calls for the president to step aside bring the total number of congressional lawmakers demanding Biden withdraw over 20 as the 81-year-old Democrat fights for his political survival. 

President Biden's press conference was, by most accounts, a lukewarm showing by the president that saw him mostly on message throughout the press conference but with a few notable mistakes. After indicating that he would be choosing reporters from a pre-selected list, the president, when answering the first question about Vice President Kamala Harris' ability to serve if he stepped aside, referred to Harris as "Vice President Trump." The president was asked, as he was walking off stage at the conclusion of the press conference, to respond to criticism from President Trump, who mocked Biden for the error. Biden smiled to himself and said, "Listen to him," as he walked off the stage.

Just minutes after President Biden walked off the stage, Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, released a statement calling on Biden to withdraw. "The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump's promised MAGA authoritarianism," he said. "I no longer believe that is Joe Biden, and I hope that, as he has throughout a lifetime of public service, he will continue to put our nation first and, as he promised, make way for a new generation of leaders."

Himes was joined by several other lawmakers, including Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL) who also called on Biden to step down. Peters, a frontline Democrat from the San Diego area, said that Biden needs to step aside so that Democrats can defeat Trump in November. "It's now clear, however, that the President's record of accomplishments will not translate into similar success in his reelection campaign. After a long primary process, we were on track to lose coming into the debate. The debate raised real concern among elected leaders, supporters, and voters that the President will not be able to wage a winning campaign. This was not a blip."

"Today I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign. The stakes are high and we are on a losing course," he continued. "My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for, and loyalty to, the President and those around him."

Peters, Sorensen, and Himes stand united with a plethora of other Democrats who have demanded Biden step aside, including Reps. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Mark Takano (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI), Angie Craig (D-MN), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Patrick Ryan (D-NY), Earl Blumeanauer (D-OR), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), and Adam Smith (D-WA).

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