Several Texas Republicans joined a growing chorus of voices calling on President Joe Biden to resign because of his apparent cognitive decline.
The fallout since Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential race on Sunday is starting to involve more than just the future of the Democratic ticket. A number of officials in and outside of Texas are arguing that if Biden does not have the faculties to run for president, he likely does not have the capacity to run the federal government.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) cut to the heart of the matter on Monday.
“If he’s not mentally competent to be a candidate for president, how is he still serving as president?” Cruz remarked, per CBS News Texas. “Do we hope the bad guys take a vacation?”
Other Texas Republican heavyweights put forward similar arguments.
Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X, “If Biden is unfit to run FOR the presidency, he is unfit to run THE presidency. American security is at risk both at home and abroad.”
The governor advocated for an immediate change in the Oval Office, calling it “essential … to ensure the safety of Americans and the security of our country.”
Several Texas congressmen also questioned Biden’s ability to finish his term.
Reacting to a post on X, Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) succinctly said, “Unfit to stand trial. Unfit to be a candidate. Unfit to continue as President. Biden must resign.”
Her colleague, Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), posted on X, “If Biden doesn’t think he’s capable of serving as Commander in Chief for another 4 years, what reason do we have to believe he can do the job for the next 4 months?”
“Who is in charge?” he added.
While suggesting that Biden’s troubling debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month was the catalyst behind Democrats’ push to replace him on the ticket, Cruz raised the question of how long people close to the president and the administration knew he was suffering significant cognitive decline.
“Understand, Joe Biden’s mental diminishment did not happen overnight,” he said, per CBS. “It did not happen yesterday, it did not happen the day of the debate. It has been evident for a long, long time that Biden’s mental capacities are severely diminished.”