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By Nicholas Kristof

Produced by Jillian Weinberger

Since President Biden’s disastrous debate performance in June, the columnist Nicholas Kristof has noticed that Biden’s language has sounded a lot like his opponent’s: criticizing the press, questioning the polls, bragging about crowd sizes at his events. In this audio essay, Kristof analyzes Biden’s recent appearances, comparing them with Donald Trump’s, and renews his call for Biden to drop out of the race.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of the audio piece. To listen to this piece, click the play button below.

Nicholas Kristof: I’m Nicholas Kristof. I’m a columnist for The New York Times.

Immediately after President Biden’s debate with Donald Trump, I called for Biden to withdraw from the race. I’ve known Biden for decades. I admire him. I think he’s a good guy. And I think he had a very good term in office, but I also, frankly, have doubts about his capacity. I think he’s on track to lose badly in November, and I believe that others are more electable.

Now that call for Biden to withdraw has grown into a chorus, but Biden is not listening, and it pains me to say this about a good man, but sometimes his rhetoric and tactics lately have reminded me of Donald Trump.

Like when Biden called in to a cable news show to dismiss criticisms.

Audio clip of Mika Brzezinski: And from inside the White House, we have a special guest joining us now.

Kristof: On “Morning Joe,” President Biden claimed that the folks who were calling on him to withdraw are elites.

Clip of Biden: I’m getting so frustrated by the elites. Now, I’m not talking about you guys but about the elites in the party, who — they know so much more.

Kristof: Sound familiar?

Clip of Donald Trump: I want you to imagine how much better our future can be if we declare independence from the elites.

Kristof: Biden........

© The New York Times