Growing concern in the Democratic Party
Concern is mounting among Democrats about the suitability of Joe Biden, the current President of the United States, as a candidate for re-election. Following Biden’s unsatisfactory performance in the first debate with his rival Donald Trump, more and more voices within and outside the Democratic Party are calling for his withdrawal.
Biden attempted to reassert his leadership during the NATO summit in Washington, but his efforts backfired. His firm speech was overshadowed by new errors from the Democratic president, who confused Kamala Harris with Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky with Vladimir Putin.
Impact of verbal lapses
These verbal lapses have been detrimental to Biden. On the one hand, by presenting the Ukrainian president as ‘President Putin’, his mistake had an immediate impact on the media. On the other hand, when asked if he sees Kamala Harris as president, he stated: ‘I would not have chosen Vice President Trump as vice president if I believed that she was not qualified to be president.’
Trump intervention
The Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, took the opportunity to mock Biden through his social networks, which has contributed to increasing pressure on the current Democratic president.
Movements within the Democratic Party
Party leaders have sought the help of former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to persuade Biden to drop out. Additionally, three Democratic lawmakers have joined calls for the president to withdraw from his party’s election candidacy after his notable verbal lapses.