President Biden speaks at a news conference on Thursday, on the final day of the NATO summit in Washington.Jacquelyn Martin/AP/AP
WASHINGTON – President Biden reaffirmed his determination to run for re-election during a news conference on Thursday, following the conclusion of the NATO summit in Washington. Amid growing calls from within his party to step aside, Biden firmly declared his intent to stay in the race.
“I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once and I will beat him again,” Biden stated, referencing former President Donald Trump.
Biden emphasized the importance of his campaign, stating, “I’ve got to finish this job, because there’s so much at stake.” When questioned about the concerns from some Democratic lawmakers, he responded, “I’m determined on running, but I think it’s important that I realize allay fears by seeing — let them see me out there. Let them see me out.” He highlighted the strength of his campaign, particularly in “toss-up states.”
Biden’s Response to Skepticism
Biden addressed the media for about an hour, answering questions from 10 reporters without a teleprompter. He spoke animatedly on topics such as the economy and gun control, and provided detailed responses on foreign policy and economic recovery since COVID.
However, the president had a notable slip-up early in the conference, mistakenly referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.” When asked about Harris’s potential to lead the ticket, Biden responded, “Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president [if] I didn’t think she was not qualified to be president.”
This error came shortly after Biden had another gaffe at the NATO summit, mistakenly referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” before quickly correcting himself.
Press Conference Highlights
A reporter posed an eleventh question at the end of the event, asking Biden how he would address criticism from Trump regarding the misnaming of Harris. Biden simply replied, “Listen to him,” before exiting the stage.
The press event was intended to highlight Biden’s leadership on the global stage, following the NATO summit. Instead, it was overshadowed by doubts about his ability to endure a rigorous campaign and another term in office. These doubts are not just from voters but also from elected Democrats and donors.
The concerns have been mounting since Biden’s poor performance in the June 27 debate against Trump. Biden struggled during the debate, later attributing his performance to a cold, jet lag, overpreparation, and interruptions from Trump. He described it as a single bad night, but many in his party remain unconvinced.
Campaign Strategy Amid Doubts
In response, Biden and his team have been working to demonstrate his stamina and mental sharpness. The campaign added stops in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Biden also participated in a full television interview on ABC News, has an upcoming interview with NBC, and made an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
Biden has taken a defiant stance, telling his party to stop discussing whether he should withdraw, as he is committed to staying in the race. While he has received support from some key figures in the party, others have expressed concerns about his chances against Trump. Recently, actor George Clooney, who hosted a significant fundraiser for Biden, penned an op-ed in The New York Times advocating for a different Democratic candidate.
Limited Press Conferences
Biden’s last solo press conference was in November 2023 in California, following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Martha Joynt Kumar, a political science professor emeritus at Towson University, noted the rarity and significance of such solo press conferences, describing them as the “crown jewel of presidential interchanges” due to their challenging nature and the depth of policy and political discussion they entail.
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