Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, called on President Joe Biden Wednesday to drop his reelection bid, citing “serious concerns” about his ability to defeat Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump, hours before the White House announced that Biden had tested positive for COVID-19.
Biden “has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history, and his lifetime of service as a senator, a vice president, and now as president has made our country better,” Schiff told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.
“But our nation is at a crossroads. A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November,” Schiff said.
Schiff is running for the U.S. Senate against former Dodgers star Steve Garvey. Garvey issued his own statement Wednesday, calling on Biden to not only pull out of the race, but to resign as president immediately, echoing a call he first made earlier this month.
“Adam Schiff’s call for President Biden not to run for re-election doesn’t go far enough,” Garvey said Wednesday. “It’s not just about the next election; it’s about the current governance. President Biden should resign immediately for the good of the nation.
“Under his leadership, we are facing unprecedented international threats, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the conflict in Israel, and increasing dangers from Iran. Our country deserves leadership that can effectively address these challenges and restore stability at home and abroad. Schiff not demanding his resignation imperils Americans at home and abroad every day,” Garvey continued.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday afternoon that Biden had contracted the coronavirus.
“Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19,” she said. “He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The White House will provide regular updates on the president’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”
At least 19 House Democrats and one Democratic senator — Peter Welch of Vermont — have called on Biden to step down, citing concerns about the president’s age after his listless performance in the first presidential debate against Trump in June.
Biden has repeatedly and emphatically refused calls to step down, touting the accomplishments from his first term as proof of his vitality and insisting that he plans to stay in the race and win in November.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, when the party is scheduled to officially nominate its presidential candidate.
However, the Democratic National Committee has decided to hold a virtual roll call vote to formally nominate Biden sometime in the first week of August, according to multiple media reports, which cited a letter sent Wednesday by the heads of the convention rules committee.