Via/AP
The Philadelphia Inquirer appears to have trolled the New York Times Saturday with the publication of an editorial encouraging Donald Trump to leave the presidential race for the good of the country.
Raw Story’s editorial board published a piece encouraging President Joe Biden to leave the race after his disappointing CNN debate performance against Trump, and the New York Times later followed suit with its own call for Biden to drop out. The Times received extensive pushback for publishing that piece, when it didn’t publish a similar one calling for Trump to drop out after he was convicted of felonies.
Now, the Inquirer, founded in 1829, has done just that. The piece, called, “To serve his country, Donald Trump should leave the race,” mirrors the language of the Times’ Biden article. “Biden had a horrible night Thursday. But the debate about the debate is misplaced. The only person who should withdraw from the race is Trump,” the Inquirer argued on Saturday.
The piece notes that, “lost in the hand wringing was Donald Trump’s usual bombastic litany of lies, hyperbole, bigotry, ignorance, and fear mongering.” “His performance demonstrated once again that he is a danger to democracy and unfit for office,” the article states. “Trump, 78, has been on the political stage for eight years marked by chaos, corruption, and incivility. Why go back to that?”
Democratic House aide Aaron Fritschner said the Inquirer is greater than the Times. Federal criminal defense attorney Mark J. Reichel said, “Can we all now get an annual subscription to the Philadelphia Inquirer.”
National opinion columnist for the Inquirer, Will Bunch, said, “I have to say that I am so proud right now of my newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer. Please read our just-published editorial.” Biden’s Wins said on social media, “In the critical swing state, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Inquirer has called for Donald Trump to drop out of the debate. Let’s go.”
The Inquirer’s editorial board highlighted the necessity of holding political figures accountable and the role of the press in ensuring a fair democratic process. The piece argued that Trump’s continued presence in the race is detrimental to the country’s future, emphasizing the chaos and division that characterized his previous tenure.
This bold move by the Inquirer underscores the increasing polarization in American politics and the media’s role in shaping public discourse. By directly addressing Trump’s unfitness for office, the Inquirer has positioned itself as a critical voice in the ongoing debate about the direction of the country.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, editorials like this one from the Philadelphia Inquirer will likely play a significant role in influencing public opinion and potentially the outcome of the election. The call for Trump to step aside reflects a broader sentiment among some Americans who are eager for a new chapter in the nation’s political narrative.
