Musk and DeSantis Urge Biden to Stay in Race

As prominent Democrats urge President Joe Biden to withdraw from his re-election campaign, some Republicans, including high-profile figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and tech mogul Elon Musk, are advocating for Biden to remain in the race. This push comes amid declining poll numbers for Biden following a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

Ron DeSantis, speaking to Iowa’s GOP delegates, expressed his hope that Democrats wouldn’t “take that nomination away” from Biden. DeSantis, Trump’s former primary challenger, emphasized that the “knives are out” for Biden within his party, a sentiment echoed by other Republicans. The Des Moines Register reported his remarks during the Republican National Convention, where he suggested that Democratic infighting could benefit the GOP.

Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake, a former news anchor, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Democratic elites. Lake claimed that these elites are attempting to force Biden out of the race despite his victory in the Democratic primaries. She highlighted that over 375,000 Arizona Democrats voted for Biden in March, choosing him over longshot candidates Marianne Williamson and Representative Dean Phillips, D-Minn. Lake’s comments reflect a broader Republican narrative that portrays the Democratic establishment as undermining the will of its voters.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also voiced his opinion on the matter, arguing that replacing Biden would undermine the primary process and the efforts made over the past 14 months. At a Politico forum, Johnson stated that a decision made by “a few people in a back room” would disrupt the tradition of allowing voters to select their candidate. His remarks underline a concern about transparency and fairness in the Democratic nomination process.

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has increasingly embraced right-wing issues on his social media platform. He has pledged $45 million per month to a pro-Trump political action committee, solidifying his political involvement. In a post on Thursday, Musk encouraged Biden to stay in the race, hinting at internal Democratic plans to remove him. Musk’s cryptic message, “They’re taking Biden fishing soon,” suggests he believes Democrats will force Biden out of the race, aligning with the notion of elite intervention.

Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, has faced mounting criticism throughout his presidency over his advanced age. These criticisms intensified following a disastrous debate performance last month, where the 81-year-old appeared to stumble over his words, speak with a hoarse voice, and at times, ramble incoherently. This performance led to a surge in calls for him to end his re-election bid, with a growing list of Congressional Democrats, billionaire supporters, pundits, and major newspaper editorial boards urging him to step aside.

Despite public endorsements from prominent Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and former President Barack Obama, there are private doubts about Biden’s viability as a candidate. These doubts have been fueled by post-debate polls showing Democrats increasingly moving away from Biden. An Ipsos poll revealed that only 42% of Democrats believe Biden is mentally fit to serve, while an Associated Press/NORC poll found that 65% of Democrats want him to end his campaign.

In response to the growing pressure, Biden has firmly rejected calls to drop out, dismissing concerns from billionaire donors and attributing his poor debate performance to a cold and extended travel. He argued that the debate was simply a “bad night” and has refused to take a cognitive test, despite calls for him to do so. However, recent reports suggest that Biden may be more receptive to his colleagues’ pleas to step aside. According to Axios, unnamed top Democrats believe Biden could announce his decision to withdraw from the race as soon as this weekend.

This internal party struggle highlights the significant challenges Biden faces in maintaining his candidacy amid growing concerns about his age, health, and ability to secure a victory against Trump in a potential rematch. As Republicans, including influential figures like DeSantis and Musk, publicly support Biden’s continued candidacy, the Democratic Party must navigate a complex landscape of internal dissent and external pressures.