Defiant Biden defends candidacy despite flubs and doubting Democrats
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President Biden at a news conference during the NATO Summit on July 11. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Biden in a rare news conference Thursday told reporters he isn't staying in the 2024 presidential race for his "legacy," but to "complete the job." Seconds after it ended, another member of his own party was already unconvinced by his resolve to stick around.
Why it matters: Biden's political support has been cratering since his disastrous debate against former President Trump. Each public appearance since has been an attempt to reset the narrative on his fitness for office.
- After the conference, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Ct.), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, joined the more than dozen House Democrats who have called on him to withdraw from the race.
- Biden spoke for almost an hour — strongest when given the floor to flex his foreign policy chops — and reiterated that he is staying in the race because he is "the best qualified person to do the job."
- But notably, he conceded that he would only reconsider his decision to stay in the race if his staff showed him evidence that he could not win, even if he was shown data that showed Vice President Harris faring better against Trump.
What he's saying: "I know I'm the best qualified to govern, and I think I'm the best qualified to win," Biden said.
- In a notable softening of his tone during an ABC interview Friday, Biden acknowledged "other people" could beat Trump.
Between the lines: Biden delivered comprehensive answers on foreign policy, from Gaza to Ukraine and China, and a concise defense of reproductive rights: "Control guns, not girls," Biden said forcefully at one point.
- He added that there's "no indication" yet that he's slowing down or can't get the job done.
During his first answer of the press conference, Biden mistakenly said, "I wouldn't have picked vice president Trump to be vice president," when asked about his confidence in Vice President Kamala Harris.
- Trump, who has repeatedly taken aim at Biden over gaffes, mocked the president on Truth Social for the flub.
- That was shortly after another flub before the conference where he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accidentally as President Vladimir Putin.
Context: High-profile donors in recent days have joined the calls for him to quit the race since the debate.
- George Clooney, who headlined a record-breaking Biden fundraiser in June, in a New York Times op-ed this week called for him to step down.
- A majority of voters (67%) said Biden should step aside as the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll published Thursday.
Zoom out: The president said he made a "stupid mistake" in the debate that followed a busy schedule. He said that he's realized he needs to pace himself more and denied recent reports that he plans to end nights at 8pm.
- Biden told reporters that his schedule since the debate has been "full bore" and took a jab at his GOP rival.
- "Where's Trump? Riding around on his golf cart filling out his scorecard before he hits the ball?" Biden said.
Editor's note: This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
