Actor is adding her voice to calls for to step aside from the presidential race following his performance in last month's debate, arguing that she worries he could lose to Republican Donald Trump in November.
In an for USA Today published on Friday, Judd called on Biden to 鈥渧oluntarily, gracefully step aside鈥� so that his party can support a 鈥渢alented, robust Democrat鈥� for the presidency. She described Biden during the debate as 鈥渋ncapable of countering Trump, while he, unchecked, gushed a firehose of galling lies.鈥�
Judd, who has been an outspoken supporter for Biden and other Democrats across the country, noted the political activism that has accompanied her multi-decade Hollywood career. Her allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein helped spark the #MeToo movement.
Warning that she fears Trump 鈥渨ould wield the power of the presidency with unprecedented, incalculable cruelty and unfairness鈥� if voters return him to the White House, Judd said that time is of the essence for Democrats to replace Biden with a candidate who can defeat him.
鈥淲e do not have another day for distraction or division among ourselves," she said.
Judd did not posit a possible replacement for Biden atop the ticket, and a representative did not immediately return a message seeking comment as to whom she might suggest.
Her call comes as Democrats consider whether they want Biden to remain as his party's nominee, following concerns over his age and ability to win the general election against Trump.
Earlier this week, movie star and lifelong Democrat George Clooney said in a that he loves Biden but the party would lose the presidential race as well as any in Congress with him as the nominee. He cited as a diminished Biden during interactions around a Los Angeles fundraiser last month.
Judd to help the Biden administration promote its new , to which she lost her mother, singer Naomi Judd, in 2022. The Biden campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Ashley Judd's piece.
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Kinnard reported from Chapin, 麻豆传媒AV Carolina, and can be reached at .
Meg Kinnard, The Associated Press
