Former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson criticized President Biden for brushing off calls to step aside from the White House race, suggesting it is a sign of “arrogance and stubbornness."
“On one hand I feel compassion for the president, and found myself feeling bad for how he was struggling during the press conference last night,” Williamson wrote Friday on social media platform X, referring to his solo presser concluding the NATO summit.
“On the other hand I feel disdain for the level of arrogance and stubbornness that enables him to put the Democratic electorate through this drama," she added.
Her remarks come as Biden continues to face pushback following a poor debate performance last month against former President Trump. During his time on stage, the president appeared to lack energy, stumble over his words and stare off into space.
The lackluster showing has sparked concerns among Democrats about his ability to defeat Trump in November or serve another term, prompting many to call on the incumbent to step aside and allow someone else to take on the former president in November.
Williamson, the onetime spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey, too has put pressure on the president to withdraw from the race. Earlier this month, the author suggested she could throw her hat into the ring for a third time — after launching a long-shot bid in March 2023 and subsequently suspending and relaunching a bid earlier this year.
While she withdrew from the race officially after the June primaries, Williamson argued that Biden needs a replacement in the race. In her Friday post, she said Biden’s stubbornness is losing him votes.
“Democratic leaders have been kindly and respectfully telling President Biden he’s done a great job and now his greatest gift to the nation would be to pass the baton,” Williamson wrote. “Clearly that’s not working.”
During Biden’s Thursday evening press conference, he answered several questions about his mental fitness and desire to stay in the race. A day later, he held a campaign event in Michigan and said he would not withdraw from the race, claiming voters made him the nominee.
Williamson said she thinks it’s time for “some brutal honesty, tough love” and for the delegates to decide to “change the trajectory of this campaign.”
