Thursday was a critical night for President Joe Biden as he addressed the nation in a press conference following a high-profile debate with Donald Trump gone wrong. This press conference came after the end of the NATO summit, and it was his first unscripted delivery since the debate amidst rising Democratic politicians’ and donors’ calls for him to withdraw from the race. However, Biden’s age and fitness to run for another term remain concerning at 81.
Addressing Worries Over Campaign Biden
In this hour-long session, Biden brushed aside any issues about his campaign by declaring: “If I slow down and can’t get the job done, that’s a sign I shouldn’t be doing it. But there’s no indication of that yet.” Despite mounting pressure from within his party, he emphasized how determined he is to accomplish what started in 2021.
Gaffes and Responses Biden
However, Biden made two significant blunders during his performance. In an initial response on national television, he wrongly called Vice President Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump.” Earlier at a NATO event, he referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin,” causing horror among some audiences. While he quickly rectified one mistake involving Zelensky, he did not notice the other, hence whispers among reporters and stern-looking members of his Cabinet.
The Reaction of the Democratic Party
These mistakes have contributed to anxiety within Democrats, leading more Congressmen to ask for Biden’s resignation. The question is whether this will lead to further calls for him to leave office. Despite all this pressure, however, Biden stood firm, laughing and smiling through questions, asserting that he could fight like Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping with world leaders.
Cognitive Health and Future Campaigns
Biden reiterated that he refused cognitive tests, arguing critics would never be satisfied even if he visited several doctors regarding many times they may meet them. It was with great confidence that he said the campaign season had just started and that he could defeat Donald Trump in November. He even joked that delegates of the Democratic Party might change their loyalties in the forthcoming convention only to add mockingly that “it’s not going to happen.”
Polls and Strained Democrats
While some polling data, like a recent Ipsos survey showing Trump leading Biden by one point, may cheer up people, they do not alleviate the widespread panic among Democratic officials. More evidence suggests that there will be an increase in the number of politicians willing to break away from Biden after the NATO summit. The president has other problems, including a high-profile interview with Lester Holt on NBC and rising donor worry.
Biden’s Stand
Despite this, Biden asserted that it would be difficult to strip him of his nomination. As he seized the podium firmly, an 81-year-old president declared himself the “best-qualified person” for running our country, signaling further fights instead of silently leaving the political stage.
