Washington Post writes hypothetical withdrawal speech for Biden

The Washington Post editorial board published a story fantasizing a day in which President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race and called for a convention to find his replacement — even giving the Democratic incumbent the words to say in a concession speech. 

The piece, titled “What if Biden spoke these words?”, writes a speech for Biden to drop out of the 2024 race as the president faces questions from several within his own party to withdraw from consideration. Those calls come in response to the president’s debate performance against Donald Trump as Biden repeatedly lost his train of thought and failed to challenge the former president in the way Democrats had hoped.

“A large part of me still wants to stay in the fight,” the theoretical speech posed. “But, at this moment, the nation needs something I cannot provide: a leader with the energy to run a vigorous campaign and then to work for America, at all hours, for the next four years.”

The speech walked through Biden’s decadeslong service in U.S. politics, acknowledging that his “season of service is nearing its close.” The speech cited George Washington’s decision to step down from office “though the Constitution at the time did not require it,” noting the first president understood when his time of service came to a close. 

In the speech, the outlet suggested Biden would call for a new process to find his replacement, which would include debates for candidates to make their case ahead of the party’s nominating convention in August. In the theoretical speech, Vice President Kamala Harris has offered herself as a willing participant, reflecting many in the party who have looked to the current No. 2 as a logical replacement should Biden withdraw from the race. 

“Between now and November, I will do all I can to support the next Democratic nominee — and to encourage Americans to rediscover the optimism and energetic spirit that built this nation,” the artificial speech said.

The editorial comes after Biden’s worse-than-expected performance in the first presidential debate last week, prompting some Democrats to openly admit they expect to lose the White House in November. 

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) became the first sitting House Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race on Tuesday and was quickly followed by Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Seth Moulton (D-MA). Former Rep. Tim Ryan also came out on Tuesday to call on Harris to step up as the party’s 2024 nominee, calling Biden’s debate performance “deeply troubling” and evidence the party must move forward. 

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The White House has remained confident in Biden’s abilities to serve a second term, brushing off suggestions that the president should step down or back out of the race. In a campaign speech after the debate, Biden acknowledged that although he is no longer a “young man,” he can hold a second term. 

The White House has also denied any reports that Biden is considering dropping out of the race.