MSNBC Host Joe Scarborough & Biden’s Closest Media Allies Urge President To Withdraw From The Race

On Friday, MSNBC’s Morning Joe host, Joe Scarborough, responded to President Joe Biden‘s unsteady debate performance by urging him to consider withdrawing from the presidential race. Scarborough’s call aligns with similar appeals from Biden’s strongest allies in the news media.

The anchor started his analysis of Thursday’s debate by expressing his admiration and respect for the president, praising him as “the most effective president in passing bipartisan legislation.”

“I love Joe Biden. I think his presidency has been an unqualified success,” said Scarborough.

“We know Joe Biden can govern. I’ll debate that issue with anyone, and I will win,” he added, “I will destroy anybody that wants to debate Joe Biden’s record over the past three and a half years.”

However, Scarborough warned that former President Donald Trump would win the 2024 election “unless things change.” He cautioned about “how dark of a place a second Donald Trump term will take America” and urged Democrats to seriously evaluate Biden, given what’s at stake in November.

“He spent much of the night with his mouth agape and his eyes darting back and forth. He couldn’t fact-check anything Donald Trump said. He missed one layup after another, after another,” said Scarborough.

If Biden was a CEO, “and he turned in a performance like that, would any corporation in America, any Fortune 500 corporation in America, keep him on as CEO?” he asked.

Biden “can run the White House, he can run the country effectively, despite the barrage of lies that constantly came at him like Donald Trump’s lies last night, but can he run for president in 2024?” questioned the anchor.

“These are hard questions, but the fact is, friends, failure is not an option in 2024,” said Scarborough, adding that this “is the last chance for Democrats to decide whether this man we’ve known and loved for a very long time is up to the task of running for president of the United States.”

While Biden is typically skeptical of the news media, Scarborough is one of the few commentators who command the president’s utmost respect and attention.

According to an Axios report, Biden regularly speaks with the anchor and is a devoted watcher of Morning Joe, often asking his aides about specific segments he has seen on the show.

Supporters and Democratic officials occasionally contact Scarborough, believing his program – known for defending Biden against various attacks – serves as a conduit to the West Wing.

According to those briefed on the matter, after Thursday’s debate, Scarborough received numerous calls from Biden allies concerned about the president’s performance. He assured them he would use the next morning’s show to deliver a candid message to Biden.

Scarborough’s message on Friday echoes that of other longtime Biden media allies, who also urged the president to consider withdrawing from the race following his shaky debate performance.

Thomas Friedman, a New York Times columnist who often converses with Biden, wrote that he had wept watching the president.

“Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for reelection,” said Friedman.

Similarly, Evan Osnos, Biden’s biographer and among the few journalists granted extensive access to him, described the president as “clearly a person who was diminished from where he was” four years ago.