In a thought-provoking opinion piece for The New York Times, veteran columnist Thomas L. Friedman called on President Joe Biden to seriously self-reflect about his 2024 presidential campaign. The article, published on July 2, suggested that Biden should consider stepping down from the race to prevent a potential Donald Trump victory.
Friedman advises Biden to ask himself: "What does your worst enemy, Donald Trump, want you to do now? Then do the opposite." The columnist posits that Trump is eager for Biden to remain in the race, anticipating a campaign strategy focused on the President's age and perceived cognitive decline.
"Trump is salivating at the prospect of Biden staying in the presidential race so he can pummel him from now until election day with 15-second television and radio ads – not to mention memes on social media – of Biden's incoherent responses in last week's debate," Friedman writes in The New York Times. He adds that these ads would likely question Biden's capability to handle crises, asking voters: "Is this the man you want answering the phone at 3 a.m. if the Russians or the Chinese or the Iranians attack us?"
I've never been a fan of President Donald Trump - but he's absolutely destroying Joe Biden in this debate… Trump is also being surprisingly generous here. This is an embarrassment to the DNC #Debates2024 pic.twitter.com/eJd76h7vjp
— Andy Signore (@andysignore) June 28, 2024
The columnist suggests that the Trump campaign believes it can win by making Biden's age the central issue of the election. Friedman notes, "I suspect that the cultists have known all along that the only reason that Trump was leading in many key polls was so many potential Biden voters were not worried about price inflation; they were worried about age inflation – Biden's."
In a bold proposal, Friedman suggests that Biden consider stepping down from the race, likening it to a scene from the musical "Hamilton" where George Washington decides not to run for president again. The columnist argues that such a move would demonstrate true leadership and put the country before self-interest.
"What Trump fears most right now is that Biden will teach the country how to say goodbye," Friedman asserts in The New York Times piece. He contrasts this potential act of statesmanship with Trump's behavior, noting the former president's refusal to concede the 2020 election and his focus on "retribution" rather than a forward-looking plan for the country.
Friedman concludes by urging Biden not to scramble for donor support or challenge the party to remove him. Instead, he suggests that the president should "elevate himself and the party above the whole fray," potentially altering the course of the 2024 election and American politics.
