Biden has had his time

There was the film, the books and even the opera. There were dolls, Halloween costumes, tattoos, memes, t-shirts and mugs. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an icon in the United States. A brilliant jurist, champion of women’s rights. A sort of American legend.

But the legend was overshadowed by its failed release. Suffering from cancer, RBG clung to her seat as a Supreme Court justice. During the presidency of Barack Obama, many encouraged her to retire, which would have allowed the Democratic leader to appoint a successor who would have continued to defend his progressive values. Justice Ginsburg refused.

She died at age 87, just 45 days before the November 2020 presidential election – leaving just enough time for Donald Trump to replace her with Amy Coney Barrett, darling of the Christian right. With this appointment, the third of his term, President Trump managed to bring a conservative turn to the highest court in the country.

We are therefore not exaggerating in saying that the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, although expected, constituted an earthquake in the United States. The shock wave is still being felt.

In Alabama, hospitals last week stopped offering fertility treatments in the wake of a ruling that frozen embryos are children. “Make no mistake: it’s because Donald Trump overturned Roe v. Wade », wrote Joe Biden on

It’s fair game, but it’s a cruel reminder that RBG’s legacy is going up in smoke. All this waste because she thought she was irreplaceable.

Today, Joe Biden finds himself in the same situation. At 81, the president is hanging on, even as more and more Democratic commentators push him out.

They do it politely, but without hiding a certain sense of urgency: the presidential election of November 2024 will not be a vote like any other. If Joe Biden loses, Donald Trump will become president again. This will be the start of a dangerous political era – and not just for the United States.

However, despite everything Americans know about Donald Trump, despite the multiple scandals and legal disputes, the Republican candidate is ahead in the polls. A lot can happen between now and November, but based on these early polls, Joe Biden could bite the dust.

And it will probably be, in part, because American voters will have found him too old to keep him in the White House.

It is always fascinating to observe the wear and tear of power among leaders. In a few years, the hair on the temples turns gray and dark circles appear under the eyes. But with Joe Biden, it’s of a completely different order. Go back and see the crowds he took four or five years ago. Compare with those of today. “Democrats who deny the decline are only deluding themselves,” says Ezra Klein, columnist at New York Times, in his podcast¹.

In 2019, Joe Biden jumped on stage energetically to address his supporters. Today he moves with careful steps, stiffly. He speaks slowly, in a muffled voice. At the dawn of an electoral race that will determine the future of the world, he seems more frail than ever. “Joe Biden looks like he’s turning into a statue of Joe Biden,” jokes The Atlantic².

For months, the American media has been rather reserved about the president’s age. But the famous report that painted him as “a well-meaning old man with a bad memory” on February 8 opened the floodgates. From now on, we no longer hesitate to ask the president to reassure voters about his ability to campaign. Failing that, he should have the courage to withdraw.

Joe Biden and his entourage reacted angrily to this media revolt, suggesting that the problem is not Biden’s canonical age, but the editorialists and other commentators who dare to question his many decades of experience .

However, the media do not invent anything. Americans’ concern is real and growing. According to an ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted in February, no less than 86% of voters now believe that Joe Biden is past the age to run for a second term!

With Donald Trump, 77, Americans are showing more indulgence, but not that much: 62% of voters find him too old to occupy the most demanding position in the United States. The two rivals are the oldest presidential candidates in the country’s history.

“They beat the record by only four years… which they themselves established, the last time they presented themselves”, squeaks Jon Stewart at the Daily Show³.

Is this ageism? Maybe. It would be illegal in the office, but it is not in the voting booth, emphasizes Ezra Klein in his podcast. “If voters are ageist and Biden loses because of that, there will be no recourse. You won’t be able to sue voters for age discrimination,” he argues, calling on President Biden to step aside while there is still time; the party could choose a new candidate at the Democratic convention in August.

That would be unheard of in 50 years. Unless there’s a major turnaround, that’s not going to happen. First because Joe Biden doesn’t want to know anything. Then because Democratic strategists consider that it is too late to change the plans. They hope that Joe Biden will campaign without making too many confusing remarks. With any luck, Donald Trump will do even worse. It’s quite possible, but it’s not likely to inspire the masses.

Despite his low popularity rating, Joe Biden has nothing to be ashamed of what he has accomplished since his election. His greatest feat was saving the United States from disaster by ousting Donald Trump from the White House in 2020. Four years later, he could perhaps save it again, if only he had the humility to remember that no one is irreplaceable.

1. Listen to the excerpt from Ezra Klein Show (in English)

2. Read the magazine column The Atlantic (in English)

3. Watch the excerpt from Daily Show (in English)