Republican lawmakers call on President Joe Biden After he announced on Sunday that he would resign No longer seeking re-election.
“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to be president,” House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X after Biden announced his decision. “He must resign immediately.”
Other congressional Republicans, including House Republican Conference Chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, echoed Johnson’s message.
“Biden poses a national security threat, suffers from severe cognitive decline and poses a clear and present danger to every man, woman and child in our country,” the former president said. Donald Trump’s the campaign said in a statement.
“Then ask (the vice president) a question Kamala Harris It’s simple: Knowing that Joe Biden is withdrawing from the campaign due to his rapidly deteriorating condition, does Harris believe that the American people will feel safe with Joe Biden in the White House for another six months,” the Trump campaign said.
Some Republican lawmakers have even raised the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment, which sets out the order of succession if a president is no longer able to discharge his duties. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace said In X’s post She plans to introduce a resolution on Monday urging Harris to invoke the 25th Amendment.
With just days left in Trump’s term, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives is set to win the 2021 election. passed a measure Called on then-Vice President Pence and the Trump Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment. Pence refused to do so.
Biden, 81, has faced Call to drop out of school of presidential campaign His stuttering and hoarse voice have raised concerns about his age since his poor debate performance in June.
But the president didn’t cite those worries His age was also not mentioned in his statement, which made it clear that he would serve out the remaining six months of his term.
“I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I resign and focus on my duties as president for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in the letter. Letter to X.
After Biden Physical examination every FebruaryWhite House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor said the president “is a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old man who is in good health and able to successfully discharge the duties of the presidency.”
After the debate on June 27, Biden also received a brief visit from a doctor. he told the democratic governor the following week and was told that his health was fine.
The president is currently in quarantine in Delaware Tested positive for Covid-19 Wednesday. O’Connor said on Sunday that Biden’s symptoms had improved “significantly.”
“The President continues to tolerate treatment without difficulty and will continue to use PAXLOVID as planned,” O’Connor said. wrote in the latest update. “He will continue to perform all presidential duties.”
Even before the president announced he would not seek re-election, Republicans began calling for Biden to resign.
“If Joe Biden ends his re-election campaign, how does he justify remaining president?” Senator JD VanceTrump’s running mate said Sunday morning. “Not running for re-election would be a clear admission that President Trump was correct all along that Biden was not mentally unfit to serve as commander in chief.”
But not all Republican members of Congress are calling for Biden to resign. Neither Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell nor House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said in their statements that Biden should serve out the remainder of his term.