Last spring, the couple faced a choice. As of 2025, they could spend the next four years being fêted, having their every need catered to, going to Big Important Meetings with other world leaders, powwowing at the very center of the action during momentous events, having their views solicited and being fawned over by journalists, celebrities and dignitaries. Or they could shuffle to the beach, yell at the television news like everyone else and maybe found a library (which sounds tedious). Not much of a contest — unless they sincerely cared about their compatriots.

Even if Biden bows to public and donor pressure to withdraw, he’s put his party on the back foot, and the process of selecting a replacement could be disastrous. He’s singlehandedly increased the likelihood of what’s ostensibly the end of the republic: a Trump victory.

For years, we’ve watched clips on YouTube in which Biden freezes, gapes, trips, wanders off and speaks such gibberish that he’s no longer pronouncing words but a blither of indiscernible syllables. The Bidens might have forced themselves to watch those clips, too, and faced the music: Joe is too senile for the presidency. The Bidens’ decision to contest this race was selfish, prideful, arrogant and, given the precipitous cognitive decay on international display last week, criminally oblivious to the future of the country they claim to love. Who’s the narcissist, really?