Opinion | Joe Biden Is a Good Man and a Good President. He Must Bow Out of the Race.
I sat in my hotel room in Lisbon, watching the Biden-Trump debate by myself, and it brought tears to my eyes. I can't recall a more devastating moment in American presidential campaign history during my lifetime. It showed me how Joe Biden, a decent man and a capable president, should not be seeking re-election. On the other hand, Donald Trump, a spiteful man and ineffective president, remains unchanged, spewing lies and consumed by his personal grudges. He lacks the qualities needed for America to thrive in the modern era.
The Biden family and political advisors need to come together urgently for a difficult discussion with the president. This conversation must be filled with love, honesty, and determination. In order to give America the best chance at defeating the Trump administration in November, the president needs to announce that he will not be seeking re-election and will be relinquishing all of his delegates for the Democratic National Convention.
The Republican Party, if they were honest, would push for the same thing. But they won't because they lack integrity. That's why it's crucial for Democrats to prioritize the country's needs and start a public selection process for various Democratic candidates to vie for the nomination. This could involve town halls, debates, and meetings with donors. The Democratic convention in Chicago on Aug. 19 might be tumultuous, but with the looming threat of Trump, I believe delegates could unite quickly and choose a candidate everyone can agree on.
If Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run for president, she should go for it. However, voters should have a transparent selection process to find a Democratic candidate who can bring unity to both the party and the nation. This candidate should offer a unique perspective on the current state of the world and a strong vision for how America can continue to lead morally, economically, and diplomatically. This was something lacking from the two men who debated in Atlanta on Thursday night.
This is not just any turning point in history. We are witnessing the beginning of the most significant technological and environmental changes in human history. We are on the cusp of a revolution in artificial intelligence that will completely transform every aspect of our lives - our jobs, education, trading, innovation, collaboration, warfare, crime, and law enforcement. It's surprising that neither candidate mentioned "artificial intelligence" during the debate.
At this moment in time, the world is in need of a strong America, with a strong leader at the helm. There are many challenges and chances ahead of us, and it is clear that a younger Joe Biden could have been the leader we need. However, it is now evident that age has caught up with him, as was painfully shown on Thursday.
Biden and I have been close since we journeyed to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the aftermath of 9/11, while he was leading the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Therefore, it pains me greatly to make the comments above.
However, if he decides to end his time as president now and admits that due to his age, he is not capable of serving a second term, his one and only term will be seen as one of the best presidencies we have ever had. He prevented another Trump term, which deserves recognition with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Additionally, he passed significant laws that are essential for addressing the current climate and technological changes.
I was willing to support Biden because I had good experiences with him in person. But now, it's clear that he is not performing well. His family and team must have realized this too. They have been getting ready for this important debate at Camp David for a while. If this is the best they could do to prepare him, it might be time for Joe to gracefully step down after this term.
If Joe Biden does this, regular Americans will praise him for prioritizing the country over his own interests, something that Donald Trump would never do.
If he stubbornly continues with his campaign and ends up losing to Trump, Biden and his loved ones along with his team and supporters who supported him will face embarrassment and shame.
They should have better. America requires better. The globe needs better.
Thomas L. Friedman is a columnist who writes about foreign affairs. He started working at the newspaper in 1981 and has been awarded three Pulitzer Prizes. He has written seven books, one of which, "From Beirut to Jerusalem," received the National Book Award. You can follow him on Twitter @tomfriedman and on Facebook.
