Radio personality Charlamagne Tha God, stepping into the role of host for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” has publicly urged President Joe Biden to forgo running in the 2024 presidential race. Charlamagne, originally from South Carolina and known for his frank political commentary, suggested that Biden’s decision to step down could boost the Democratic Party’s chances against Donald Trump. This, he claimed, would be “the ultimate Christmas gift” for the nation, as reported by the Atalanta Black Star on Saturday, December 9.
Charlamagne’s interactions with Biden date back to the 2020 election campaign, where he notably challenged Biden on his show “The Breakfast Club.” During that interview, Biden made the controversial comment, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t Black.” Biden still emerged victorious from a tumultuous election that culminated in the Capitol riot.
On “The Daily Show,” Charlamagne expressed his ongoing concerns with Biden’s presidency, pointing out the president’s low approval ratings and framing him as a hindrance to thwarting Trump’s potential return to power, which Charlamagne described as a pursuit of dictatorship.
The impetus for Charlamagne’s recent call for Biden to step down came from Biden’s remarks at a private fundraiser on December 5, where Biden speculated that he might not have run if Trump were not in the race. This admission formed the basis of Charlamagne’s argument: that stepping aside could be Biden’s best strategy to ensure Trump’s defeat.
Biden himself has acknowledged the presence of many potential Democratic candidates, suggesting a field of “probably 50 of them.” Charlamagne interpreted this as Biden’s ego speaking and urged him to allow other Democrats to run, despite Biden’s seeming confidence in his candidacy.
Recent polling from The Wall Street Journal reinforces Charlamagne’s stance, showing Trump leading Biden by 4 percentage points in a hypothetical election matchup. The poll indicated voters’ preference for Trump on key issues like the economy, inflation, crime, border security, and international conflicts.
Charlamagne also brought Biden’s age into the debate. The president, who recently turned 81, has faced scrutiny over his age and health, with Charlamagne suggesting that Biden should consider retiring gracefully.
Other Democratic figures, including Rep. Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson, have echoed the sentiment for a generational shift in leadership. Cenk Uygur of “The Young Turks” also announced his candidacy but is ineligible due to not being a natural-born U.S. citizen.
As the Democratic Party shapes its strategy for the 2024 election, the pressure on Biden to reassess his candidacy grows. Charlamagne Tha God’s vocal stance represents a growing chorus within the party calling for change and a united front to prevent Trump’s potential return to the presidency. The question looms: will Biden respond to these calls for the perceived benefit of party unity and the country’s future?
