Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Wednesday became the 21st Democratic member of Congress to call for President Biden to abandon his 2024 run, adding mounting pressure to the oldest-ever commander-in-chief following a disastrous debate performance and bungled media interviews.
“Joe Biden has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history, and his lifetime of service as a Senator, a Vice President, and now as President has made our country better,” Schiff said in a statement. “But our nation is at a crossroads. A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
“While the choice to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden’s alone, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch,” added the California Democrat, who is running for US Senate in November himself. “And in doing so, secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
“But make no mistake, whoever our party ends up nominating, or if the nomination remains with the president, I will do everything I can to help them succeed,” Schiff hedged. “There is only one singular goal: defeating Donald Trump. The stakes are just too high.”
Schiff had come close to calling for Biden’s ouster before in an interview earlier this month on meet the press, in which he slammed the Democratic Party leader and said he “should be mopping the floor with Donald Trump.”