Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) continued his ardent support for President Joe Biden and his reelection campaign on Wednesday, questioning why there is division and panic within his own party.
Requests for Biden to drop out of his 2024 reelection bid have increased significantly since the first presidential debate last month, with several Democratic lawmakers and even celebrities like George Clooney making these calls. Fetterman, one of several lawmakers who have backed Biden in the wake of the debate, contended that Biden allies making these calls are entitled to their own opinion, but questioned how these calls are helpful to the president or the party as a whole.
“Joe Biden is committed to stay in this race, and that’s our guy,” Fetterman said on ABC’s The View. “And I don’t understand why Republicans, after the trial or after conviction and all of the other terrible things that is part of his record, Republicans circle up and stand with him. And with Democrats, we all panic, and I have never — remember, if you’re in a foxhole that panicking has never made that situation any better.”
The Pennsylvania senator also wanted Democrats to remember that Biden is the only Democrat who has beaten former President Donald Trump in an election, encouraging the party not to split after a bad night at the debate. Fetterman has already criticized former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for suggesting Biden has not decided on staying in the race, stating that Pelosi has “never run for the president.”
Regarding last month’s debate, Fetterman argued that people need to remember that debates do not determine the presidency, as then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton “smoked” Trump in all three 2016 debates before losing the election. He encouraged people to “get outside the bubble” to see how “real Democrats” feel about Biden and argued they are enthusiastic about supporting him this November.
Despite a growing number of people suggesting Biden bow out of his reelection bid, others have stood by the president, even criticizing those against Biden seeking a second term. Clooney’s op-ed calling for Biden to drop out, for example, has been criticized by several celebrities, including comedian D.L. Hughley.
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Amid the division over Biden’s reelection bid, some have suggested the president take a cognitive test to quell concerns over his mental fitness to serve as president. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) stated she does not think it would hurt for both Biden and Trump to take this test.
The former president is set to become the nominee for the Republican Party next week when the party hosts its Republican National Convention. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), a former rival of Trump in the presidential primary, will be among the speakers at the event.