‘Coup’ and ‘Cover-Up’: How the GOP Is Responding to Harris’ Candidacy
‘Not fit to serve’
‘Best interest’
‘Sign of life’
‘Far left democrats’
‘Resign’
‘Less competent’
‘Coup’
‘Biggest political cover-up affair’
’25th Amendment’
‘Rigging’
‘Where is Joe Biden?’
‘Border Tsar’
‘Gaslighting and lying to every one of us’
‘From wood chipper to democracy’
‘Who is the boss?’
‘All the best’
While elected Democrats quickly rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris after President Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, a large majority of leading Republicans have treated the development with suspicion or disdain.
A New York Times analysis of statements by Republican senators, representatives and governors found that their reactions to Ms Harris’s likely candidacy and Mr Biden’s withdrawal centered on several themes, including opinions that Mr Biden should resign or that the events of the past few days amounted to an undermining of the election or a bloodless coup. Recent polls suggests Nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe Biden’s decision to leave office was the right one.
Several officials also suggested that Mr. Biden — who was in Delaware recovering from Covid-19 but returned to the White House on Tuesday — was missing. A larger number made statements attacking Ms. Harris’s record, while a small handful offered positive or supportive comments. The Times added emphasis to these quotes to highlight common themes in the statements.
65 called Biden’s withdrawal a coup d’état or said it came down to interference in elections.
‘This is a coup d’état of a puppet regime.’
‘While President Trump takes a bullet for our democracy, progressive Democrats take a wood chipper to democracy by tearing apart the will of 14 million voters.’
Now the Democrats are rigging their *own* elections.’
These statements tend to argue that Mr. Biden’s decision to end his candidacy was not his own, was not democratic, or both. Many have ridiculed Democrats for positioning themselves as “defenders of democracy” in contrast to Republicans, after efforts by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Some of this language began to to bubble up among Republicans, even before Mr. Biden announced he would withdraw. At last week’s Republican National Convention, Chris LaCivita, a top adviser to Mr. Trump’s campaign, described the pressure on Biden to withdraw as an “attempted coup.”
97 said that Mr. Biden must resign or are expelledor that he is unfit for office.
Today I demand that Biden’s Harris Cabinet 25th AmendmentIf Biden is not fit to be a candidate, he is not fit to be president.’
“If Joe Biden is unable to serve another term, then he should… resign at this point. If he’s not fit to campaign, he shouldn’t have the nuclear codes — it’s that simple.’
“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for re-election, then he is… unfit to serve the remainder of his term.’
Statements along these lines have largely argued that if Mr. Biden is unable to run for a second term, he is now unfit to continue serving. Many have said he should resign as president. Some have gone further, suggesting that the 25th Amendment should be invoked to remove Mr. Biden from office.
76 speculated on a high level conspiracy at the White House about Mr. Biden’s health.
Kamala Harris was complicit in a huge cover-up affair to conceal and deny that Joe Biden was unable to perform the duties of his office.’
“The American people should fire any politician who… gaslighting and lying to each and every one of us about Biden’s ability to lead our nation. Kamala Harris is just as culpable as Biden’s senior staff and family in this plot to undermine democracy.”
Democrats have been complicit in the biggest political cover-up in history.’
These comments, without providing evidence, have accused Ms Harris and other leading Democrats of a cover-up to conceal the state of Mr Biden’s physical and mental condition.
18 requested, Where is Biden? or suggested that the president had disappeared.
Where is Joe Biden? Who is the boss?‘
Americans ask: Where is Joe Biden?‘
‘For the third time today, I’m asking Joe Biden to provide the American people with sign of life.
Mr. Biden was self-isolating with Covid-19 at his family’s beach house in Delaware when he announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. The 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 on Tuesday afternoon and is scheduled to deliver a televised address this evening.
143 made other statements, primarily focused on an attack on Ms. Harris’s past.
“Border Tsar‘Harris has NOT done her job of securing the border.’
Kamala Harris leads the Far-Left Democrats‘Pro-crime, anti-victim agenda.’
‘Cackling Kamala is widely regarded less skilled than the dementia-suffering Joe Biden.’
Dozens of Republican officials made more typically political statements, including criticism of Ms. Harris as a candidate. A common line of attack, that Ms. Harris failed as a “border czar,” is misleading. (Some Republican candidates have already begun taking out ads like thesewhich drew attention to some of the more liberal positions Ms. Harris has taken in the past, most notably during her failed 2020 presidential primary campaign.)
And 9 made positive or supportive comments on Mr Biden’s decision.
Fran and I wish President Biden and the First Lady Best as he serves out the remainder of his term and in the years to come.’
“I understand and respect President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election. While we have political differences, appreciate his lifelong service to our country, which he loves so much.’
“I respect President Biden’s decision to take action best interest of the country by stepping down in the 2024 presidential election.’
A few Republican officials wrote friendly letters about their relationship with Biden or sent him well-wishes.
The table below shows which Republican elected officials have made which statements, through Tuesday evening.
