Arizona State Rep. Austin Smith (R-Wittman) said the media outlets that tried to convince American citizens that Biden was fit for office "are scum."

“You don’t hate the media enough who tried gaslighting Americans into thinking Joe Biden was fit for office,” Smith said in <a href="https://x.com/azaustinsmith/status/1815196640564887820">a post on X.</a> “These people are scum.”

Outgoing President Joe Biden announced his decision to drop out of the presidential race and endorsed his current Vice President Kamala Harris as a replacement in <a href="https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1815087772216303933">a July 21 post on X. </a>

Harris was the first woman, the first Black American and the first South Asian American to hold the vice presidency after she was elected in 2020.

Biden’s decision to step down came after questions regarding his fitness and mental capacity after the June 27 president debate between him and former President Donald Trump, who is the Republican nominee for president. 

According to a post-debate <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cnn-flash-poll-shows-trump-clear-winner-first-presidential-debate-stunning-number">CNN poll,</a> 67% of viewers regarded Trump as the victor. In contrast, following the 2020 debate between Trump and Biden, the corresponding poll indicated that only 39% of viewers perceived Trump as the winner.

In a recent <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/646547/age-issues-working-trump-advantage-pre-debate.aspx">Gallup poll </a>conducted in June, findings revealed a concern among voters regarding President Biden's age, with 67% expressing apprehension about his being 81 years old. Comparatively, concerns about President Trump, aged 78, were reported by 37% of respondents. 

Along with Harris, a <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/28/who-replace-biden-2024-election-democrats">list of possible Democrat politicians</a> that could replace Biden on the ticket includes Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), California Governor Gavin Newsom, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.