'Biden Resignation Theory' Losing Ground in US Democrats... NATO Meeting as a Test

No Collective Action on 'Resignation Talk' in the House
Senate Remains Silent... No Official Resignation Demand

Since concerns about President Joe Biden's age and competitiveness were raised during last month's presidential debate on TV, calls for his withdrawal from the presidential race have emerged both inside and outside the Democratic Party. However, since President Biden stated that he would not withdraw, no clear conclusion has been reached. On the 9th (local time), amid a series of meetings with Democratic members of the House and Senate, there was speculation that a collective resignation demand might be made, but the meetings ended without any decisive outcome. Accordingly, the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, starting that day, is expected to become a political test for President Biden.

On that day, the U.S. Democratic Party held a House caucus meeting followed by a Senate lunch meeting.

U.S. President Joe Biden is delivering a speech at the 75th anniversary event of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on the 9th (local time). [Image source=UPI News]

At the regular House caucus meeting, which was held privately for about two hours, at least 20 members reportedly spoke. According to the Associated Press (AP), sources said that most of them hoped President Biden would withdraw from the presidential race. However, the private House meeting ended without reaching any specific agreement.

Representative Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey) issued a statement that afternoon, asking President Biden to "declare that, because he deeply cares about America's future, he will not run for re-election and will help lead the process for a new candidate." The Washington Post (WP) reported that this was the tenth time that Democratic House members, publicly or privately, have called for President Biden to step down among the 213 Democratic House members.

Public statements supporting President Biden's completion of the presidential race also continued. Notably, Representative Jerry Nadler (New York), who had urged Biden to withdraw in a private setting two days earlier, reversed his position that day, saying, "Concerns about the president's qualifications as a candidate still exist, but they are no longer the issue."

The House Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, and progressive members also expressed their support for President Biden.

After the Senate lunch meeting ended, senators were reluctant to express their positions on whether they supported President Biden. When Senator Chris Coons was asked during the lunch meeting if any senators argued that Biden should withdraw from the presidential race, he did not respond. No senator has publicly mentioned President Biden's withdrawal from the candidacy.

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According to AP sources, most Democratic senators expressed concerns during the lunch meeting about whether President Biden could defeat former President Trump, but they did not say he should step down from the candidacy. A source familiar with the Democratic meetings told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that opinions on Biden were evenly divided. He said, "One-third want him to resign, one-third want him to continue, and one-third think that although Biden is the candidate, he will lose."

WP reported that "Democratic House members have subtly begun to accept that President Biden can continue the presidential race." The New York Times (NYT) reported that "despite concerns among Democratic members about President Biden's age, mental sharpness, and re-election ability, they have expressed that they do not intend to push him out for now."

President Biden continued internal persuasion by contacting Democratic figures on that day as well as the previous day. He also delivered a speech at the 75th anniversary event of NATO's founding. The NYT forecasted that the NATO summit, which will last for three days and two nights starting that day, will be a political test for President Biden. The series of dinners and meetings with world leaders will verify his diplomatic skills and provide an opportunity to dispel concerns about his age.

The Biden administration moved to quell calls for withdrawal. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing that day, "We want to move on to the next page."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen dismissed the age controversy during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee that day, saying, "President Biden is very capable in the meetings I have attended with him."