GOP leaders contrast Republican unity with Democratic 'confusion'

Jul. 22—In the wake of President Joe Biden's announcement on Sunday that he was dropping out of the race for president in 2024, Republicans in Missouri expressed unity behind Donald Trump, who hopes to return to the White House in November.

Missouri's two Republican U.S. senators also called on Biden to resign immediately.

Nick Myers, chairman of the Missouri State Republican Party and chairman of the Newton County Republican Central Committee, was a delegate at last week's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

He said the convention put Trump and vice presidential nominee JD Vance in the spotlight as the standard bearers of the Republican Party.

"The events of this last week really highlight the strength and the unity of the Republican Party," Myers said. "While I was at the convention in Milwaukee, it was evident that our party and Missouri's Republicans in particular are firmly united behind President Trump and JD Vance. And I was thinking when I heard the announcement and all the speculation on President Biden ... that our unity really stands in stark contrast to the current confusion within the Democratic ranks as they now struggle to find a new leader."

Missouri's two Republicans in the U.S. Senate made it clear that they think that if Biden can't run a campaign for president then he can't finish the final six months of his current term.

Sen. Josh Hawley reposted Biden's letter on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said, "Then RESIGN your office. If you can't run a mere political campaign, you can't be President."

Sen. Eric Schmidt expressed a similar opinion on X: "Joe Biden's time in elected office is far past its expiration date. Biden's three-and-a-half-year tenure in the White House has brought Americans crushing inflation, an abysmal foreign policy record, and a vastly unchecked expansion of the administrative state. Americans are ready for new leadership, not more of the same from Democrats — regardless of who they now scramble to nominate. Further, if Joe Biden isn't fit enough to serve as a candidate after the primary, he isn't fit to serve as president now."

Commenting on those two statements, Myers said, "Well, you would have to wonder."

"What does he say his reasoning is for not running?" Myers added. "So you would have to wonder if he's not able to do one, is he able to do the other one?"

Myers said Biden's announcement certainly changes the election but that it doesn't change the basic choice Americans have in November.

"In my thinking, the choice is clear that Americans want a leader who will protect their freedoms, ensure economic prosperity and maintain national security," Myers said. "We're confident that our commitment to these values will lead us to prevail against any opponent that the Democrats may present."