Another influential newspaper is calling on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 US presidential election.
The Economist, in an editorial published Thursday, argues that Biden's performance in the CNN presidential debate was "terrible," but "the coverage has been even worse."
“It was agony to watch a confused old man struggling to remember words and facts. His inability to mount an argument against a weak opponent was troubling. But his campaign's operation to deny what tens of millions of Americans saw with their own eyes is more toxic than the two, because its dishonesty provokes contempt," the editorial said.
Noting Biden's poor polling against former President Trump in the days after the debate, The Economist urges Democrats to continue calling for Biden to step down.
"Democrats argue, rightly, that Mr. Trump is unfit to be president. But the debate and its aftermath have proven that Mr. Biden is also unfit. First, because of his mental decline. Mr. Biden can still appear dynamic during brief scripted appearances. But you can't autocue a superpower. And you can't wait for an international crisis because the president is having a bad night."
"Mr. Biden is innocent of the failure of his powers, but not of a second disqualification, which is his insistence, encouraged by his family, senior staff and Democratic elites, that he is still in the highest office difficult in the world. Mr. Biden's claim that this election is between right and wrong is destroyed by the fact that his campaign now depends on a lie," the article said.
The paper says Democrats, who "mockery" at Republicans for failing to stand up to Trump, should "look in the mirror" when it comes to Biden.
"Democrats may say that their tactics are merely political. Their ugly means are justified by their honorable goals of saving American democracy from Mr. Trump's robbery. This defense does America no favors. The cover-up tactic your flaws by demonizing your opponent has long damaged American politics, but using the threat of Mr. Trump as a 'dictator' to compensate for Mr. Biden's apparent weakness is a form of blackmail, as head of state America's president embodies the virtues of the republic. As a stubborn old man who leaves the real work to his courtiers, the more he will undermine Americans' confidence in their system of government, representing America abroad, Mr. Biden will present a disappointment—for pleasure. of China and Russia and the horror of America's allies", it is further said.
The editorial concludes by noting that a new candidate will miss Biden's jabs at Trump on inflation, immigration and the alleged "witch hunt" that led to Trump's prosecution.