Former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance have criticized the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2024.
In a Fox News interview aired Monday morning, Trump and Vance labelled Biden’s withdrawal as a form of political manoeuvring detrimental to the president’s credibility and questioned the legitimacy of his tenure.
During the interview on Fox News’ “Primetime,” host Jesse Watters asked Trump if Biden’s exit represented a “coup” against him. Trump responded with a hesitant “Sort of,” prompting Vance to elaborate further.
“Yes, I think it is,” Vance said. “There’s a constitutional process—the 25th Amendment. If Joe Biden can’t run for president, he shouldn’t be serving as president. If they believe he’s mentally unfit, they should invoke the 25th Amendment. You don’t get to handle it in a way that’s politically advantageous for Democrats. If it’s a real issue, it should be addressed properly.”
The interview was recorded before Biden announced that he would withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the presumptive new Democratic nominee. Vance echoed similar sentiments on social media before the announcement, arguing that Biden’s decision to step down was an acknowledgement of Trump’s criticisms about his mental fitness.
“If Biden isn’t fit to campaign, he shouldn’t be trusted to stay in the White House,” Vance posted on X. “This situation leaves no room for compromise.”
Trump also voiced support for investigating those who, in his view, concealed the actual state of Biden’s health, including the White House doctors who have consistently reported positive assessments of the president’s condition.
