Former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke has openly criticised President Joe Biden’s decision to seek re-election in 2024, stating during an appearance on Pod Save America that Biden “should not have run again” and that he had “failed this country in the most important job that he had.” O’Rourke, a former Texas Senate and gubernatorial candidate who also stood in the 2020 Democratic primaries, suggested that the United States may suffer as a result of Biden’s re-election bid. “We might very well lose the greatest country that this world has ever known,” he warned, attributing part of the blame to the President and his advisers.
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The remarks come at a time of mounting scrutiny over Biden’s physical and mental acuity. Reports have emerged that staff previously discussed using a wheelchair for Biden during re-election events. Additionally, audio from a 2023 interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur revealed the President struggling to recall significant dates and details from both his personal and political life. O’Rourke argued that Americans had made it clear they wanted change and criticised the Democratic Party’s decision to run “the oldest guy” despite concerns over his capabilities, calling it a “credibility problem.”
Jon Favreau, host of Pod Save America and a former Obama speechwriter, echoed these sentiments, urging Democratic leaders—particularly those eyeing a 2028 run—to admit their mistake. “He shouldn’t have run for a second term,” Favreau stated, adding that Biden’s advisers were wrong to encourage him to continue. He stressed that continued denial would only prolong the party’s credibility issues and hinder future leadership transitions.
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In response to growing doubts, Biden has recently appeared in interviews with the BBC and The View in an attempt to defend his record and counter claims of cognitive decline. During these appearances, he refuted suggestions that he was no longer fit for office, while his wife, former First Lady Jill Biden, denied accusations of shielding him from public scrutiny. “There’s nothing to sustain that,” the President asserted, referring to the allegations. Nonetheless, pressure remains on the Democratic Party to confront internal divisions and leadership concerns head-on.
