In a dramatic escalation of internal party strife, President Joe Biden finds himself at the center of a growing storm within the Democratic Party.
As the ailing 81-year-old president prepares for a high-stakes press conference on Thursday – his first since a widely criticized debate performance against former President Donald Trump – Biden faces mounting pressure from party elite and donors to step aside.
The upcoming press conference, dubbed a “big boy” event by the White House, has become a make-or-break moment for Biden’s reelection bid.
Set against the backdrop of a NATO summit, the world’s eyes will be on the American president as he attempts to quell concerns about his mental acuity that have surged since his debate showing.
The pressure on Biden intensified Wednesday when Hollywood star George Clooney, a longtime Democratic supporter and recent fundraiser host for the president, penned a scathing op-ed in The New York Times calling for Biden to withdraw from the race. Clooney’s piece, titled “I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee,” sent shockwaves through Democratic circles.
“We’re all so terrified by the prospect of a second Trump term that we’ve opted to ignore every warning sign,” Clooney wrote, echoing growing fears among party faithful that Biden’s mental decline could lead to a Republican landslide in November.
The Hollywood star’s defection was just the latest in a series of blows to Biden’s campaign.
California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker and a close Biden ally, notably withheld her endorsement during a recent MSNBC appearance, stating only that “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run.”
More and more Democratic lawmakers have openly called for Biden to step aside in recent weeks. Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont became the first Democratic senator to urge Biden’s withdrawal, joining at least eight House Democrats who have made similar pleas.
The growing chorus of dissent within the party ranks comes at a terrible time for Biden, who has plummeted in the polls.
The fallout has extended beyond political circles, impacting Biden’s fundraising efforts with elite donors. A scheduled lunch for donors at next month’s Democratic National Convention was just abruptly canceled.
Critics have long accused the White House of hiding Biden’s cognitive decline from the public. Thursday’s press conference will take on added significance as a rare, unscripted moment in Biden’s presidency.
The president’s inner circle, reportedly consisting primarily of First Lady Jill Biden and his son Hunter, has come under fire for insulating him from political realities. Former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield publicly called for the campaign to release their internal polling data, underscoring the growing skepticism even among former allies.
As the Democratic National Convention in August looms, party strategists are grappling with the possibility of needing to find a new nominee. Vice President Kamala Harris is seen as the likely frontrunner should Biden step aside, but such a move would need to happen before the convention to be viable.
Despite the mounting pressure, Biden’s campaign maintains that he is “running to win.” Campaign spokesman Seth Schuster told The Daily Beast that they are focused on doing everything necessary to defeat Trump in November.
However, with polls showing Trump leading in key battlegrounds and even threatening traditionally Democratic strongholds like New York, anxiety within the party is palpable.
The coming days, starting with Thursday’s press conference, could prove decisive in determining whether Biden can weather this storm or if the Democratic Party will be forced to contemplate a dramatic last-minute change at the top of the ticket.