168 business leaders in the United States jointly wrote to Biden: For democracy, withdraw from the election
Observer Network reported that after the "catastrophic" debate, the White House and Biden campaign team were busy with crisis public relations, but still couldn't stop the call for "withdrawal" from Democratic Democrats. According to the Washington Post and Bloomberg, on July 5th local time, a business organization composed of top American business leaders, the "Leadership Immediate Plan," wrote to the White House, calling on Biden to stop campaigning "for American democracy and the future.".
The statement has been co signed by at least 168 people, including major donors from the Democratic Party. At present, the number of signatures is still increasing.
In the joint letter, these business leaders first praised Biden for "saving American democracy in the civil war", and then emphasized, "To consolidate this political legacy, we call on you to stop running for re-election and hand over leadership to the next generation of Democratic leaders.".
"In November of this year, democracy in the United States will face danger," the letter wrote. "At this crucial moment for our country, it is time to consolidate your legacy by passing the torch - just like George Washington, the first leader of the United States, we respectfully urge you to withdraw from running for re-election for our democracy and the future of our country."
A person familiar with the matter told The Washington Post that the letter had been submitted to senior White House officials, but no further details were disclosed.
It is reported that the Leadership Immediate Program is a business organization composed of top American business leaders and renowned political donors, established in 2018 to address growing concerns about the threat to democratic norms. On the 3rd local time, the organization issued a public statement urging Biden to voluntarily withdraw from the election to "protect democracy and prevent Trump from being re elected.".
Screenshot of US business organizations publicly calling for Biden's withdrawal statement "for democracy"
It is reported that the business leaders who signed the joint letter on the 5th include billionaire Christie Walton (worth about 14 billion dollars, the daughter-in-law of the founder of Wal Mart), former president of the National Football League (NFL) Paul Tagliab, billionaire investor Mike Novogratz, former Google Govinin Mosberger Tang, Warburg Pincus' managing director Hasha Marty, Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lesig, and others.
Daniela Balu Ares, CEO of the Leadership Immediate Program and former Obama administration official, declined to comment on the joint letter. However, in an interview with CNN on the 4th, Baru Ares pointed out that she is very concerned that Trump will return to the White House, "posing risks to the economy, national security, and the rule of law.".
Balu Ares said that if Biden continues to run, she expects all members of the organization to still support Biden and oppose Trump. However, she added that the likelihood of Biden losing the election now far outweighs the likelihood of winning.
Later on the 5th, the Biden campaign team did not respond positively and only reiterated Trump's "harm" to American society. A spokesperson for the team said, "Economists have warned that Trump will push up inflation and plunge the United States into recession, while Biden will continue to lower costs and promote job growth. For anyone who hopes for success in the United States, the choice of this election is clear enough."
After watching Biden's performance in the first debate, Americans and the media unanimously commented on him as "stuttering", "constantly stuttering", and "poorly performing". On the evening of June 27th local time, Biden's disastrous debate performance disappointed Democrats and left them sleepless all night. With only four months left until the election, some Democrats have even called for a "replacement".
The New York Times, an American media outlet, previously reported that the practicality of the Democratic Party's "replacement" campaign is very complex. Given the urgency of time (the Democratic Party's nomination convention will be held on August 19th) and the potential political challenges that may arise from the "replacement", it will be difficult for the Democratic Party to replace Biden unless Biden voluntarily withdraws. The White House and Biden's campaign team have repeatedly stated that Biden has no intention of withdrawing from the race.
However, as public support continues to decline, there are constant calls within the Democratic Party and major donors for Biden to withdraw from the election. The latest poll data released by The New York Times shows that Trump's approval rating is 47%, leading Biden by three percentage points (44%).
According to a report by the Financial Times on the 4th, multiple insiders revealed that the disappointment of major Democratic donors towards Biden is deepening, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and California Governor Gavin Newson have been identified as the primary candidates to replace Biden. In addition, US Vice President Harris is also seen as a candidate who can replace Biden.
From left to right: California Governor Newson, Vice President Harris, and Michigan Governor Whitmer profile map
Bloomberg reported that the continuous pressure from business and political leaders to demand Biden's withdrawal reflects the Democratic Party's crisis after Biden's "catastrophic" debate. However, it is currently unclear how much influence Democratic donors will ultimately have on Biden's decision. Previous reports have shown that Biden heavily relies on the opinions of a small group of core advisors, including his wife Jill and son Hunter.
On the 5th local time, in an interview with ABC, Biden attributed his poor performance to the fatigue caused by illness and accused former President Trump of "aggressive lies" that had caused him to lose his composure. He also insists that he is "still in good condition" and will continue to run, only "the Almighty God" can make him withdraw from the election.
