WASHINGTON — Some Republicans reacted immediately to President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not seek re-election in November by demanding that he also resign from the presidency.
“If Joe Biden is unfit to run for president, he is unfit to serve as president. He must resign immediately. November 5th cannot come soon enough,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement shortly after Biden announced his decision.
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the conference chairwoman and the fourth-ranking House Republican, added: “If Joe Biden cannot run for re-election, he cannot and is unfit to serve as President of the United States. He should resign immediately.”
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It was a widespread response within the Republican Party, with Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, responded similarly:
Senate GOP campaign chair Sen. Rep. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said he would “formally call on President Biden to resign from office in the interests of our nation’s national security.”
“If Joe Biden can no longer run for re-election, he can no longer serve as president. Being president is the hardest job in the world, and I no longer believe Joe Biden can effectively carry out his duties as commander-in-chief,” Daines said in a statement.
In his statement on Sunday, Biden said he would “retreat” from the presidential race and “focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.” While many Democrats have called on Biden to drop out of the 2024 race, none have urged him to leave the presidency early. Skeptical Democrats aren’t taking issue with Biden’s ability to get the job done, but rather his ability to mount a serious campaign into November after his poor debate performance and his declining communication skills.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., proposed that Biden be forcibly removed from office through the Constitution’s 25th Amendment, which governs succession if a president is unable to fulfill his duties.
“If Joe Biden is ineligible to run for re-election, he is ineligible to serve his term,” Mullin said in X. “25th Amendment.”
Far-right Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said: “How is he strong enough to continue to serve as commander-in-chief of the most powerful nation in the world? Joe Biden needs to step down.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accused Democrats of going against the will of voters who chose Biden as their nominee.
But McConnell, 82, a longtime friend of Biden’s who is stepping down at the end of this term, has not joined GOP calls for the president to step down before the end of his term.
Some Republicans, including Johnson, blamed Democrats for Biden’s decision to have Vice President Kamala Harris carry the standard this fall.
“The self-proclaimed ‘party of democracy’ has proven the opposite by invalidating the votes of more than 14 million Americans who elected Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for president,” Johnson said in his statement. Democratic attack line against Donald Trump this campaign season – The former president has worked to undermine American democracy.
“The party’s prospects don’t look good right now with vice-president Kamala Harris,” Johnson added.
Other Trump allies responded that Trump was running against not just Biden, but an entire party and organization.
“President Trump is never running against Joe Biden. He is running against the destruction of America brought about by the Democrats and their policies. Said in XIncluding Democrats Salary “A conspiracy” against Biden.
Former presidential candidate and Trump supporter Vivek Ramasamy. said: “We are not contesting against one candidate. We are running against a system.
