Unless Joe Biden stands aside, the world must prepare for President Trump 2.0 | Timothy Garton Ash

The president has had a good run. But the Democrats must choose a younger candidate if Donald Trump is to be kept out of the White House

During the two months I spent in the US this summer, I kept asking every journalist, academic and analyst I met one simple question: “Who will be the next president of the United States?” The response was usually the same. First there was a distinct hesitation, then they said “Well, probably Joe Biden, but …”

What followed the “but” was a long list of concerns, partly about deeper trends but mainly about how old and frail the 80-year-old president looks. Often, the conversation ended with my interlocutor saying it would be better if Biden stood aside, to let a younger candidate turn the age card against the 77-year-old Donald Trump.

Timothy Garton Ash is a Guardian columnist

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