The White House on Monday pushed back on Republican lawmakers who have called on President Biden to resign as commander-in-chief after he announced that he would no longer seek reelection.
Andrew Bates, a spokesperson for the White House, said Mr. Biden will finish his term and will deliver “historic results for the American people.”
“President Biden inherited an economy in freefall, a skyrocketing violent crime rate, alliances in tatters from his predecessor,” Mr. Bates said in a statement. “He turned around to deliver the strongest economic growth in the world and the lowest violent crime rate in nearly 50 years while making NATO bigger than ever.”
“He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people,” he said. “That includes continuing to lower costs, create jobs and protect Social Security while standing against the MAGAnomics agenda that would worsen inflation and drive us into recession. And he’ll keep fighting to protect Americans’ freedom from radical abortion bans and attacks on the rule of law.”
Mr. Biden, 81, stepped aside from the campaign Sunday after weeks of pressure from Democrats who worried that he wouldn’t defeat former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee. There have been long-running concerns about his age and declining abilities.
Some Republicans in the House and Senate on Sunday said that Mr. Biden’s decision to step aside as the Democratic presidential nominee confirmed their view that he does not have the cognitive ability to serve as president. It’s an issue that has dogged Mr. Biden since his devastating debate performance last month.
“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said on Sunday.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, New York Republican, echoed Mr. Johnson’s statements, saying Mr. Biden “must immediately resign.”
Sen. Steve Daines, Montana Republican, said he no longer has the confidence that Mr. Biden “can effectively execute his duties as Commander-in-Chief.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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