Eight members of the Tennessee congressional delegation have called on President Joe Biden to resign from the presidency after announcing the end to his 2024 reelection bid.
Biden announced that he would not seek reelection to the presidency on Sunday, citing his decision was made in the “best interest” for the Democratic Party and the country.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a statement announcing his decision.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race came nearly one month after he appeared absent-minded and confused, stumbled over his words, and lost his train of thought multiple times during a 90-minute televised debate hosted by CNN against former President Donald Trump.
The president’s debate performance dominated the national news cycle since then as Democratic leaders questioned Biden’s abilities to finish out his term as president and another four-year term amid his apparent decline.
While Biden conceded to the calls for him to abandon his reelection bid, many Republicans have called on Biden to resign from the presidency immediately.
Tennessee U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) were among those Republicans echoing the call.
If Joe Biden is too weak to stay in the race for the presidency, he should RESIGN as our Commander-in-Chief immediately.
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) July 21, 2024
“If Joe Biden is too weak to stay in the race for the presidency, he should RESIGN as our Commander-in-Chief immediately,” Blackburn said.
Hagerty agreed, saying in a statement, “This is an unprecedented and disgraceful crisis of presidential leadership. If President Biden isn’t capable of running for President, he cannot be capable of serving as President.”
“He should resign and stop endangering the nation and stop risking the security and well-being of the American people. Whether or not Joe Biden is aware, the left-wing puppeteers of the Biden Administration have done serious damage to our nation—from inflation to a collapsed border, diminishing opportunity, and a deteriorating world—and it’s time to clean house, end the dysfunction and destruction, and rebuild America,” Hagerty added.
Six members of the Tennessee congressional delegation serving in the U.S. House of Representatives have also called on Biden to resign the presidency following his Sunday campaign announcement.
If Joe Biden is not fit to run for reelection, he is not fit to be commander-in-chief.
— Rep. Diana Harshbarger (@RepHarshbarger) July 21, 2024
“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for reelection, he is not fit to be commander-in-chief,” U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) said.
Biden can’t run a campaign but he can run our Country?
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) July 21, 2024
Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) also speculated on Biden’s ability to continue serving as the nation’s commander-in-chief, posing the question, “Biden can’t run a campaign but he can run our Country?”
U.S. Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03) and Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) both replied to Biden’s Sunday announcement by saying, “Now resign.”
“We’re seeing the true colors of the Democratic Party, folks. We MUST unite around [Donald Trump],” Fleischmann added.
Okay, @JoeBiden. Now resign.
We’re seeing the true colors of the Democratic Party, folks. We MUST unite around @realDonaldTrump.
— Chuck Fleischmann (@chuck4congress) July 21, 2024
Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) first applauded Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race, however, also questioned the president’s continued ability to serve, saying, “President Biden is going to have to come out and tell the American people why he has decided not to run.
“If it’s because of his health or mental decline he must immediately resign,” DesJarlais said.
President Biden is going to have to come out and tell the American people why he has decided not to run.
If it’s because of his health or mental decline he must immediately resign.
My thoughts with @DanMandisShow on @997wtn 👇 pic.twitter.com/XXGdsDsTu3
— Scott DesJarlais (@DesJarlaisTN04) July 22, 2024
U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07), an ER physician, observed how Biden “clearly cannot” command the nation as president.
“If President Biden isn’t fit to run for reelection then it’s clear he also isn’t fit to hold office. The Commander-in-Chief should be able to command. Joe Biden clearly cannot,” Green said.
If President Biden isn’t fit to run for reelection then it’s clear he also isn’t fit to hold office.
The Commander-in-Chief should be able to command. Joe Biden clearly cannot. https://t.co/U2CquenjZL
— Mark E. Green, MD (@DrMarkGreen4TN) July 21, 2024
Shortly after announcing his decision to abandon his reelection bid, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s 2024 presidential nominee.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Rep. Nancy Mace upstaged Sen. Marsha Blackburn today! Are you gonna take that, Marsha??