'Reckless gamble': New York Times editorial board calls for Biden to drop out after debate

The New York Times editorial board released a blistering editorial on Friday night that called for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race after his disastrous debate performance on Thursday. 

Biden's performance in the televised debate has shaken many Democratic insiders, leaving some liberal leaders reportedly scrambling to find a replacement candidate that has a chance of beating former President Donald Trump in November. But the White House has maintained that Biden will remain in the race.

"The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant," the board wrote. "He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trump’s provocations ... More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence."

They continued: "As it stands, the president is engaged in a reckless gamble. There are Democratic leaders better equipped to present clear, compelling and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency."

The board acknowledged the president's long devotion to the country, and praised his leadership over the past few years. But the board claimed that trying to pass off Biden's performance in the debate as a bad cold, or a bad night, was no longer sufficient and a new leader and candidate must take his place.

"It’s too big a bet to simply hope Americans will overlook or discount Mr. Biden’s age and infirmity that they see with their own eyes," the board said.

The editorial board also reminded readers that the debate was largely set up by Biden, and the decision to have a debate so far ahead of the November general election was to qualm the fears of voters regarding the president's future.

"He understood that he needed to address longstanding public concerns about his mental acuity and that he needed to do so as soon as possible," the group wrote. "The truth Mr. Biden needs to confront now is that he failed his own test."

The event on Thursday night was the first official presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle. A second debate is still scheduled for September, but it is not clear whether the president will still participate in it.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.