Lawmakers, Hollywood stars, and well-known journalists are increasingly calling on U.S. President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race set for November. Here are the prominent figures urging the 81-year-old president to reconsider his candidacy against Republican Donald Trump in the upcoming elections.
**Lawmakers**
About ten lawmakers from Texas and Oregon, both progressive and moderate, have urged Biden to step away from the race for the White House, expressing concerns over his ability to win against Trump following his disastrous performance in their debate on June 27. The latest was Michigan Representative Hillary Scholten, who called on the president on Thursday to "hand over the torch" to someone else "for the sake of our democracy." Nancy Pelosi, on the other hand, has insistently refrained from offering explicit support for the president.
**Senators**
Vermont Senator Peter Welch was the first to directly call on the president "to withdraw from the race for the country's sake" on Wednesday. In an article published in the Washington Post, he warned that "latest polls show that the political risk for Democrats is increasing. There are states that have until now been our stronghold which are beginning to lean Republican."
**Hollywood Stars**
Earlier, Hollywood star George Clooney delivered a strong blow to Biden on Wednesday, urging him to abandon his re-election bid in an article published in the New York Times. Clooney wrote: "I love Joe Biden. I consider him a friend and I believe in him. But the only battle he cannot win is the battle against time." He added: "We will not win in November with this president." Clooney's call received support from Hollywood director Rob Reiner, who also recently demanded Biden's resignation. Reiner wrote on the platform X: "My friend George Clooney articulated clearly what many of us are saying. Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need a younger person—Biden should step aside." Actor Michael Douglas, who also hosted a fundraising campaign for Biden in Hollywood last April, stated that Clooney made "a valid point" when asked about the op-ed during his Wednesday appearance on "The View." Though Douglas did not call for Biden to step down, he expressed feeling "deep concern." Renowned author Stephen King issued a similar plea on Monday. Meanwhile, producer and heiress Abigail Disney announced her plans to suspend donations to the Democratic campaign as long as Biden remains in the race. Reed Hastings, a major Democratic donor and co-founder of Netflix, also urged Biden to withdraw "to make way for a national Democratic leader to defeat Trump."
**Journalists**
The editorial board of the New York Times has called twice for Biden to withdraw from the race. This board includes prominent editorial writers and aims to reflect the paper's values, with similar calls coming from editors at The Atlantic magazine and the Washington Globe.
