Following a lackluster performance in last month’s U.S. presidential TV debate, allegations have risen that former U.S. President Barack Obama is behind the pressure for President Joe Biden to resign from the candidacy.
On the 10th (local time), the Washington Times (WT) reported that among the recent calls for Biden’s resignation as a presidential candidate, many were from Obama’s administration, including former White House senior advisor David Axelrod.
The newspaper reported that while Obama himself has avoided commenting on Biden, who was his vice president, former Obama administration officials are actively advocating for Biden’s resignation.
Former Obama administration staffers, known as Obama Bros, have been attacking Biden through broadcasts and social media.
On the same day, actor and close friend of Obama, George Clooney, wrote an op-ed in the New York Times (NYT) urging Biden to step down as a presidential candidate. Clooney called Biden’s performance in the debate “disappointing.”
Axelrod and Jon Favreau, who was Obama’s White House speechwriter, appeared on CNN and supported Clooney’s claim about Biden’s mental health issues.
Axelrod suggested that due to Biden’s low approval ratings, there are concerns that the Republicans may take the majority in both houses in the November elections, causing Democratic leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to push for a candidate replacement.
Pelosi, a long-time collaborator of Obama, appeared on MSNBC and suggested that Biden should reconsider his candidacy after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.
