Biden is determined to run
At a press conference at the end of the NATO summit, US President Biden aims to dispel doubts about his fitness for another term. However, not everything went smoothly.
US President Joe Biden used his much-anticipated press conference at the end of the NATO summit to defend his domestic and foreign policy record. Questions about his increasingly questioned ability to lead the country for another four years were brushed aside. "It's not about my legacy. It's about finishing the work I've started", he said.
The support from voters was strong, insisted the 81-year-old. He would remain in the presidential race and win. He wouldn't do this "if I'm getting slower", he assured, adding that he could still do the job. "My schedule is full", he explained. "If I get slower and can't get the work done, that would be a sign that I shouldn't be doing it. But there's no sign of that - none."
A disastrous TV debate with former President Donald Trump on June 27 had recently fueled doubts about whether the 81-year-old still had the mental acuity for another term. The focus at the press conference following the NATO summit was on whether Biden would allow any more gaffes or weaknesses to show. Hours beforehand, he had mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Vladimir Putin - but quickly corrected himself.
A dozen Democratic representatives had urged Biden to withdraw his candidacy before the press conference. The night before, the first Democratic senator had also called on him to do so. And Hollywood star George Clooney wrote in a recent opinion piece in the "New York Times" that he loved Biden but that the party would lose the race for the White House and control of the US Congress with him as the candidate. The waning support could also be a financial problem for the Democrats: According to a report in the "Financial Times," major donors are considering whether to withdraw their support from the Biden campaign.
Biden and Harris confused
"I'm determined to run, but it's important that I allay fears - they should see me out there", Biden said at the press conference about the growing doubts. But then he allowed himself another slip-up.
In the first reporter's question, he was asked for a statement on the loss of support from many Democrats and labor unions, as well as on Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden initially reacted defensively and declared that the United Auto Workers union had supported his candidacy, "but go on." But then he mixed up his deputy Harris and his rival Trump. "I wouldn't have made Trump my vice president if he wasn't qualified", he said.
A response from Trump was quick in coming. He released a video clip on his social media platform of Biden saying "Vice President Trump." "Good job, Joe", Trump added sarcastically.
"His eight-minute remarks on NATO at the beginning of the press conference were delivered by Biden with the help of teleprompters. 'Kiev still stands and NATO is stronger than ever before,' he summarized. In total, he answered questions from ten journalists afterwards, which focused on his mental fitness, domestic and foreign policy, and - primarily - his re-election campaign.
'I believe I'm the most qualified to govern,' Biden said. He is qualified to win, and he will stay in the race until his staff tells him there's no chance for him to win the election. 'No one is saying that,' Biden explained. 'No poll says that.'"
- Despite concerns raised after a controversial debate with former US President Donald Trump, Joe Biden reaffirmed his intention to run for the US Presidential Election 2024, assuring his supporters and NATO allies of his fitness and ability to lead the United States of America.
- In the midst of his press conference following the NATO summit, US President Joe Biden faced a moment of confusion while discussing his Vice President Kamala Harris, mistakenly referring to her as if she were his rival, Donald Trump.
- As major financial donors consider withdrawing their support following dwindling public approval, US President Joe Biden emphasized the necessity of addressing doubts about his competence and reassuring voters of his commitment to serve another term, citing significant support from organizations such as the United Auto Workers union.
