In the aftermath of President Biden’s lackluster debate performance against former President Donald J. Trump, his usual media allies have started to defect one by one. Prominent figures like MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, CNN’s Van Jones, and others who have stood by the president are now openly urging him to consider dropping out of the race.
The usually supportive Joe Scarborough, known for his show “Morning Joe” on MSNBC, did not mince words as he expressed his disappointment in the president’s debate showing. Despite his previous admiration for Biden’s presidency, Scarborough pointed out Biden’s lack of effective fact-checking, missed opportunities, and overall shaky performance during the debate. This sentiment was echoed by other long-time Biden supporters in the media, such as New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman and Biden’s biographer Evan Osnos.
Even Van Jones, a Democratic analyst on CNN, delivered a heartfelt plea for the president to reconsider his candidacy. Jones acknowledged Biden as a good man who loves his country, but emphasized that he had failed to meet the expectations set for him during the debate. The general sentiment among these media allies is that Biden’s performance was lacking, and it might be time for the Democratic party to explore other options for the upcoming election.
This wave of defection from Biden’s media allies is a significant development, considering their usual support for the president. It signals a shift in the perception of Biden’s candidacy and raises questions about his ability to effectively lead the country for another term. As the Democratic party grapples with this new reality, the pressure on President Biden to address these concerns and make a decision about his political future continues to mount.