Vance Demands Biden Step Down: ‘If You Can’t Run, You Can’t Serve’

Vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) is calling for President Joe Biden to resign following Democratic Party members' urging him to end his reelection campaign due to concerns about his mental fitness.

Vance, chosen by former President Donald Trump as his running mate on the first day of the Republican National Convention this month, stated that if Biden cannot run for office because of cognitive issues, he should also step down from the presidency.

“Everyone calling on Joe Biden to stop running without also calling on him to resign the presidency is engaged in an absurd level of cynicism,” Vance wrote on the X platform. “If you can’t run, you can’t serve. He should resign now.”

Despite the calls for his withdrawal, Biden announced earlier this week that he intends to complete his term, which ends on Jan. 20, 2025.

In a Wednesday Oval Office address, Biden emphasized that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title” and affirmed his commitment to serving the remainder of his term.

“I draw strength, and find joy, in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People,’” Biden said.

“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation,” Biden added.

Within Biden's inner circle, as well as from the president himself, there was mounting anger and frustration in response to the growing calls for him to step down after a poor debate performance and a decline in polling numbers.

Sources told NBC News that Biden felt “isolated, frustrated, and angry,” perceiving betrayal by his allies during a critical time. According to the network, someone within Biden's inner circle said, “He’s really pissed off.”

The report noted that Biden spent the weekend before his withdrawal with close advisers and family, excluding Vice President Kamala Harris, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, and campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon.

Advisors reportedly warned Biden that victory was unattainable. “It became a no-win situation, a self-fulfilling prophecy,” former White House official Cedric Richmond said Sunday. Without the necessary money and support, “it’s impossible to win, and he’s always put country and party first.”

Biden's loyalists were also disheartened that Democratic Party members asked him to step aside instead of showing their support, as reported by the outlet.

“Here is a man who has always talked about dignity,” NBC quoted a longtime Biden ally saying. “And what was happening to him in a very public setting was undignified. Where does the president go to get his dignity back?”

CNN analyst Bakari Sellers mentioned that several Democratic lawmakers and operatives were upset about how Biden's exit from the race was handled, according to Fox News.

“My phone is blowing up with people who are pissed off, and the reason they’re pissed off is because they feel like people from on high pushed Joe Biden out the door,” he said.

“A text that I just got from a friend was like, ‘If they pushed Joe Biden out the door, what are they going to do with Kamala Harris?’ They will probably try to push her, too,” he added.