‘Unfit to serve’
‘Best interest’
‘Proof of life’
‘Far Left Democrats’
‘Resign’
‘Less competent’
‘Coup’
‘Largest political cover-up’
‘25th Amendment’
‘Rigging’
‘Where is Joe Biden?’
‘Border Czar’
‘Gaslighting and lying to each of us’
‘Wood chipper to democracy’
‘Who is running the show?’
‘All the best’
While elected Democrats have been quick to rally around Vice President Kamala Harris after President Biden’s announcement that he would leave the 2024 presidential race, a vast majority of prominent Republicans have treated the development with suspicion or scorn.
A New York Times analysis of statements by Republican senators, representatives and governors found that their reactions to Ms. Harris’s presumptive candidacy and Mr. Biden’s withdrawal clustered around several themes, including the opinions that Mr. Biden must resign or that the events of the past few days amounted to election subversion or a bloodless coup. Recent polling suggests nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe Mr. Biden’s decision to step aside was the right one.
Several officials also suggested that Mr. Biden — who had been in Delaware recovering from Covid-19 but returned to the White House on Tuesday — had gone missing. A greater number made statements attacking Ms. Harris’s record, while a small handful posted positive or supportive comments. Emphasis in these quotations was added by The Times to highlight common themes in the statements.
65 called Mr. Biden’s withdrawal a coup or said it amounted to election interference.
‘This is a coup of a puppet regime.’
Thomas Massie
Representative, Ky. 4th
‘While President Trump took a bullet for our democracy, the progressive democrats are taking a wood chipper to democracy by shredding the will of 14 million primary voters.’
Mark Alford
Representative, Mo. 4th
‘Now the Democrats are rigging their *own* elections.’
These statements have tended to argue that Mr. Biden’s decision to end his candidacy was not his own, was not democratic or both. Many have mocked Democrats for positioning themselves as “defenders of democracy” in contrast to Republicans, following attempts by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Some of this language began to bubble up among Republicans even before Mr. Biden announced that he would drop out. During the Republican National Convention last week, Chris LaCivita, a top adviser to Mr. Trump’s campaign, described the pressure on Mr. Biden to withdraw as an “attempted coup.”
97 said that Mr. Biden must resign or be ousted, or that he is unfit for office.
‘Today I’m demanding the Biden Harris cabinet invoke the 25th Amendment. If Biden isn’t capable of being a candidate, he’s not capable of being President.’
Eric Schmitt
Senator, Mo.
‘If Joe Biden is unable to serve another term, then he must resign right now. If he’s unfit to campaign, he should not have the nuclear codes — it’s that simple.’
Roger Marshall
Senator, Kan.
‘If Joe Biden is unfit to run for re-election then he’s unfit to serve the remainder of his term.’
Kat Cammack
Representative, Fla. 3rd
Statements along these lines have primarily argued that if Mr. Biden is not able to run for a second term, then he is unfit to continue to serve now. Many said should step down from the presidency. Some have gone further, suggesting that the 25th Amendment should be invoked to remove Mr. Biden from office.
76 speculated about a high-level conspiracy in the White House about the condition of Mr. Biden’s health.
‘Kamala Harris was complicit in a massive coverup to hide and deny the fact that Joe Biden was not capable of discharging the duties of the office.’
Ron DeSantis
Governor, Fla.
‘The American people should fire every single politician that has been gaslighting and lying to each of us about Biden’s capability to lead our Nation. Kamala Harris is as culpable as Biden’s senior staff and family in this scheme to subvert democracy.’
Jack Bergman
Representative, Mich. 1st
‘Democrats have been complicit in the largest political cover-up in history.’
Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House
These comments have, without providing evidence, accused Ms. Harris and other top Democrats of a cover-up to hide the state of Mr. Biden’s physical and mental fitness.
18 asked, ‘Where’s Biden?’ or implied that the president had gone missing.
‘Where is Joe Biden? Who is running the show?’
Nancy Mace
Representative, S.C. 1st
‘Americans are asking: Where is Joe Biden?’
Markwayne Mullin
Senator, Okla.
‘For the third time today, I’m asking Joe Biden to provide the American people with proof of life.’
Lauren Boebert
Representative, Colo. 3rd
Mr. Biden was self-isolating with Covid-19 at his family’s Delaware beach house when he made the announcement that he would step aside from the 2024 presidential race. These comments drew attention to his lack of recent public appearances, in some cases even calling for a demonstration that Mr. Biden was still alive. Mr. Biden returned to Washington Tuesday afternoon and is set to give a televised address this evening.
143 made other statements, mostly attacking Ms. Harris’s record.
‘ “Border Czar” Harris has NOT done her job to secure the border.’
Greg Abbott
Governor, Texas
‘Kamala Harris leads the Far Left Democrats’ pro-crime, anti-victim agenda.’
Elise Stefanik
Representative, N.Y. 21st
‘Cackling Kamala is widely considered less competent than dementia-impaired Joe Biden.’
Warren Davidson
Representative, Ohio 8th
Dozens of Republican officials made more typically political statements, including criticizing Ms. Harris as a candidate. One common line of attack, positing that Ms. Harris failed as a “border czar,” is misleading. (Some Republican candidates have already begun to run ads like this one, drawing attention to some of the more liberal positions Ms. Harris has taken in the past, particularly during her failed 2020 presidential primary campaign.)
And 9 made positive or supportive comments about Mr. Biden’s decision.
‘Fran and I wish President Biden and the First Lady all the best as he serves out the remainder of his term and in the years ahead.’
Mike DeWine
Governor, Ohio
‘I understand and respect President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. While we have political differences, I appreciate his lifelong service to our nation, which he dearly loves.’
Lindsey Graham
Senator, S.C.
‘I respect President Biden’s decision to act in the best interest of the country by stepping aside in the 2024 presidential election.’
Lisa Murkowski
Senator, Alaska
A few Republican officials wrote kindly about their relationships with Mr. Biden or sent him well wishes.
In the table below, see which Republican elected officials made which types of statements, as of Tuesday night.
