On March 9, 2020, Joe Biden — then the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee — described himself as “a bridge” to a new generation of Democratic leaders who are “the future of this country.”
As we approach the halfway point in President Biden’s first term, it’s clear the time has come for him to embrace his place in history as a transitional president and resign gracefully.
Biden faces record-low approval ratings, an impending red-wave midterm election, renewed concerns about his physical health and cognitive fitness, a failed domestic agenda with no path forward and glaring foreign-policy mistakes. If Republicans capture Congress, he’ll also face questions he can’t answer on his involvement in his son Hunter’s lucrative foreign business.
As a loyal Democrat, I don’t intend to criticize the character or integrity of Biden — for whom I voted on 2012’s ticket — and I recognize his presidency has had a few successes. His administration deserves credit for the rapid distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, which helped pull the country out of the pandemic’s worst days. Biden also signed two bipartisan reforms into law: a significant investment in America’s infrastructure and an unprecedented gun-safety bill.
But Biden hasn’t done what he was elected to do: heal America after years of polarization and division. That healing process failed in large measure because of his team’s inability to pursue an inclusive agenda.
Biden’s put the Democratic Party on track for a disastrous midterm election. He is widely blamed — and is in fact largely responsible — for the rampant spurt in inflation, which stands at 9.1% overall and 11.3% in wholesale prices, despite his efforts to fingers others such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
There’s a reason Democrats avoid the subject of Biden on the campaign trail — he’s a drag on their electoral chances. Biden’s approval rating just reached a record-low 31%. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats (64%) would prefer he not seek reelection in 2024.
The president’s precipitous loss of support — even within his own party — has been driven in large part by voters’ concerns about his age and clear cognitive decline. A majority (53%) of Americans already had doubts about his physical fitness for office before his COVID-19 infection at age 79 renewed worries and yet another verbal gaffe — suggesting he has cancer — sent his communications team into damage control once again.
But beyond his physical and mental fitness, Biden’s proven throughout his tenure that he’s unable to effectively lead his party and country, both at home and abroad.
The president’s signature piece of legislation — his Build Back Better plan — will go down in history as a fiasco. Biden remained singularly focused on advancing this so-called transformational bill last year, often while ignoring the larger political forces at play vis-à-vis rising inflation, surging crime, the southern-border crisis and frustrations about COVID-19 mandates.
And since Build Back Better’s failure, the Biden administration — and national Democrats — has yet to propose a new agenda for the country that is anything more than a knee-jerk reaction to the right’s extreme positions on social issues.
Biden’s also been an inadequate commander in chief. Last August, he oversaw US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was, simply put, an unmitigated disaster. That embarrassment led America’s allies to question our word, further destabilized the Middle East, gave Putin the reassurance he needed to invade Ukraine and jeopardized Taiwan.
Unfortunately, Biden’s recent Middle East trip underscored his inability to project American leadership internationally. He failed to pressure Tehran to slow its nuclear program and secure allies to counter Russia’s and China’s influence in the region. Though Biden acted eerily cordial with the Saudi crown prince, he couldn’t persuade the Saudis to increase their oil production.
Biden has clearly lost his ability to govern — just as United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson did. The time has come for Biden to follow Johnson’s lead and step aside.
With the revelations about Hunter Biden’s contacts with his vice-president father giving the lie to Joe’s claims he never discussed Hunter’s business, it’s virtually certain there’ll be congressional investigations should Republicans win one or more chambers in November — making it even more difficult for the president to govern effectively.
For his party and his country, President Biden should step down before the midterms and give Vice President Kamala Harris a chance to lead.
While Harris unquestionably has political vulnerabilities of her own, Biden passing the torch would provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the Democratic Party — which claims to represent Americans of all classes and creeds yet still has three old, white leaders at the helm: Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
As a young person of color — who would be the first female commander-in-chief — a President Harris could help shore up enthusiasm among the Democratic base and bolster the party’s midterm chances, especially given the energy surrounding women’s rights following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. And elevating Harris now would have the added benefit of allowing party leaders and activists to assess whether she’s a viable option as the 2024 nominee.
President Biden has served America admirably for nearly six decades. Now, as his final act of service to his party and to his country, he should gracefully resign and help usher in a new generation of Democratic leadership.
Andrew Stein is a former Democratic New York City Council president.
