THE time has come for President Joe Biden to retire after stumbling through last week’s debate and failing to assure the American people he is fit for another four years, an ex-Obama official has said.

Monday’s Supreme Court ruling that Donald Trump has absolute immunity from prosecution for “official acts” while president should also act as a clear signal for Biden that it’s time to “ride off into the sunset,” he advised.

It comes as Rep Lloyd Doggett on Tuesday became the first congressional Democrat to officially call for Biden to withdraw from the race.

Brett Bruen, a former adviser to Barack Obama, told The U.S. Sun that the Supreme Court ruling is a signal to Democrats of what they stand to lose by keeping Biden in the running.

“All of these [decisions] ought to serve as reminders to Democrats and also to all Americans that we are fragilely perched on the precipice of an abyss into which we will fall unless we have someone who can offer a clear, compelling alternative to Donald Trump,” Bruen said.

“Joe Biden is not the man. I like him personally, I enjoyed serving with him – but it is time for him to ride off into the sunset and to enjoy his retirement.”

Bruen said the Democrats are in a “chaotic state of confusion” without a “clear path forward” ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

“We, quite frankly, don’t have a plan that can be reliably used to win this election, not only the presidency, but the two chambers of Congress, as well as numerous state and local races,” he said.

“We are in a state of ludicrous limbo that all depends on one individual who’s stubbornly sticking around because he, members of his family, and close advisers believe, out of a false sense of entitlement, that his nomination is rightfully theirs.

“And it is coming at the expense of the party, our most cherished principles, and, quite frankly, the will of most Democrats and American voters.”

IMMUNITY FOR OFFICIAL ACTS

In a historic 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court decision declared that former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for their “official acts,” but no immunity for unofficial acts.

The case will be sent back to lower courts to decide what counts as an official act as president – meaning Trump could still go trial in Washington DC, where he faces federal charges related to conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results while in office.

It’s unclear if he’ll face federal charges in the trial. However, presidents can still be prosecuted for acts committed in a personal setting.

REACTIONS TO RULING

Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson voted against the majority ruling.

Justice Sotomayor called the decision a “mockery” of the American justice system in her dissent, adding that the President is now “a king above the law.”

Biden himself labeled the Supreme Court ruling as one of the “darkest days in the history of America.”

He said that allowing Trump to have certain immunities meant there are “virtually no limits on what a president can do.”

Joe Biden slams ‘dangerous precedent’ set by Supreme Court’s Trump immunity ruling calling it ‘disservice to Americans’

Following the immunity decision, Trump is now arguing that his May 30 conviction be thrown out.

The former president shared news of the decision on his social media platform Truth Social, calling it a “big win for our Constitution and democracy.”

He also said he is “proud to be an American!”

His attorneys sent a letter to Judge Juan Merchan asking to overturn the conviction just hours after the ruling.

Merchan, who oversaw the historic hush money trial in New York City, has yet to rule on Trump’s new request or to determine his sentence.

DISASTROUS DEBATE

Monday’s Supreme Court decision came just days after the election’s first presidential debate ended in disaster after Biden stumbled through sentences and appeared to freeze on stage several times.

Biden’s poor performance in the debate led to growing worries from Democrats that the president won’t be able to beat Trump come November.

“We saw on Thursday night how much of a congenital liar and cheat Trump is,” Bruen said.

“Yet somehow, all of those fantastical distortions and deceptions that he perpetrated were overshadowed by Biden’s abominably poor performance.”

Bruen went on to say that Biden’s “age and incapacity to communicate” might become a “bigger story” – or “at least equally as bad a story” – as Trump’s felony convictions and legal battles.

“Then we really have to rethink our strategy because the story should not be on our flaws, but on his deep, deep unsuitability for the presidency.”

CAN HE BE REPLACED?

As members of the Democratic Party call for Biden to step down, other voters are wondering if it’s even possible to replace the current President.

There are multiple ways that Democrats could oust Biden – and one of them is invoking the 25th Amendment.

Ratified in 1967, the 25th Amendment says that Biden’s cabinet could remove him from office if the vice president and a majority of the administration determine he is unfit to serve.

This move would allow Vice President Kamala Harris to become acting president of the United States.

WHO COULD REPLACE HIM?

Democrats could also knock Biden out of the running by choosing another nominee before the Democratic National Convention on August 19.

Forcing Biden out would mean the delegates choose another candidate – and there are a few options, but no serious Democratic challengers have stepped up.

Possible replacements for the Democratic presidential candidate besides Harris include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and more state representatives.

AGE ISSUES ARE FRONT OF MIND

The ex-Obama aide warned that after the debate, concerns about Biden’s age might be on voters’ minds instead of problems with Trump’s candidacy.

“Those issues have now been thrust into the fore,” Bruen said about worries regarding Biden’s age and competency.

“So they’re front of mind for voters who see January 6, who even see Trump’s conviction in a New York courthouse as being somewhat more distant, somewhat more diluted in their memory than what plays down on their television screens and continues to play out on social media.”

BIDEN FIGHTS BACK

The day after the debate, Biden quickly addressed the backlash and calls for him to step down from running for president.

“I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious,” Biden said to a crowd in North Carolina on Friday.

“Folks, I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to.

“But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth, I know right from wrong.”

Despite his seemingly confident response, the President reportedly spent the weekend holding crisis talks with his family to discuss his re-election future.

Bruen predicts that the next few days will be “telling” in terms of the path that Biden’s campaign will take.

Assuming Biden remains the nominee, the next agreed-upon debate between Trump and Biden is set for September 10.