When President Biden dropped out of the presidential race last month, Republicans called for his immediate resignation from the presidency, arguing that his decision to end his reelection campaign because he is unfit to campaign means he is also unfit to serve out the rest of his term.
And while Biden and the Democrats have insisted he is fit to hang on until November, his schedule as of late has looked more like that of a retiree than a U.S. president.
Since speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19, Biden has not held a single public appearance.
He left Chicago after delivering his speech to head to Santa Ynez, Calif., where he spent a week staying on the 8,000 acre ranch of friend Joe Kiani.
On Sunday, Biden traveled from Santa Ynez to his home in Rehoboth Beach, Del., to continue his vacation.
His longest interaction with the press came on August 24, when a reporter asked how ceasefire talks are going with Israel and Hamas, and Biden gave a thumbs up.
Biden is set to remain in Rehoboth Beach until Friday.
The only item on Biden’s schedule for the last ten days — aside from Saturday and Sunday, when his schedule was empty — has been receiving the president’s daily briefing.
The White House has defended Biden against criticisms over his extended vacation.
“As with all Administrations, there is no such thing as a presidential ‘vacation.’ The President is always working wherever he goes. Anyone claiming anything otherwise is either misinformed or engaged in misinformation,” White House deputy press secretary Emilie Simons said in a statement.
While on vacation, Biden has held separate calls with several foreign leaders: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
And the president’s schedule next week does include two public events: a campaign event with Vice President Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh, Pa., and a trip to Wisconsin to “highlight how his Investing in America agenda is benefiting communities across Wisconsin and ensuring Americans have a brighter, more prosperous future,” according to the White House.
Earlier this month, Biden told CBS Sunday Morning that he plans to campaign on behalf of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz. Asked what he says to people who have questioned his health and his ability to appear on the campaign trail or finish out the rest of his term, Biden said: "All I can say is, 'Watch.' That's all."
"Look, I had a really, really bad day in that debate because I was sick. But I have no serious problem," he added at the time.
Biden had defended his mental acuity in the weeks before dropping out, but he had continued to make gaffes in interviews and public appearances, at times offering confusing, rambling responses to journalists' questions. He accidentally introduced Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin" during the NATO summit and referred to Harris as "Trump" during a rare solo press conference.
House Speaker Mike Johnson was one of many Republicans who called on Biden to immediately resign after he dropped out of the race last month.
"If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President. He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough," he said.
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