Biden says in interview that ‘only the Lord Almighty’ can get him to step down from 2024 race: Live updates
‘I beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again in 2020,’ Biden said during an energetic rally on Friday prior to the interview’s broadcast
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Joe Biden said that only “The Lord Almighty” could make him drop out of the presidential race, in his first interview since his now-infamous debate with Donald Trump last week.
During the 22-minute, uncut sit-down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday, the president took full responsibility for his poor performance, but once again blamed it on illness and lack of sleep.
But he remained adamant that he would not be dropping out. “If you can be convinced that you cannot defeat Donald Trump, will you stand down?” Stephanopoulos asked him.
“Look, I mean, if the Lord Almighty came down and said ‘Joe, get out of the race then I’d get out of the race. The Lord Almighty is not coming down. These are hypotheticals,” Biden replied.
The president also dodged questions about whether he would be willing to undergo an independent medical evaluation that included neurological and cognitive tests and then release the results to the American people.
“I have a cognitive test every single day… I’m running the world,” Biden said, alluding to his busy schedule.
Earlier on Friday, he thrashed Trump in Wisconsin in an energetic rally, though still managed to slip up, telling crowds: “I beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again in 2020.”
Biden warns against Trump’s ‘monarchy’ on July 4 while ex-president gleefully watches the chaos
Disney heiress vows to stop Democratic donations until Biden stands aside
Trump calls Kamala Harris his ‘new Democrat challenger’ in scathing July 4 post
GoFundMe for Stormy Daniels tops $800k as she reveals threats over Trump conviction
Only ‘The Lord Almighty’ would make Biden drop out of race
Joe Biden said that only “The Lord Almighty” would make him step down from the presidential race, despite growing calls for him to drop out.
ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos put to him that by remaining in the race, he was echoing the sentiment of his rival Donald Trump – that he was “only out for himself”.
“How do you respond to critics who say that by staying in the race, you’re doing the same thing?” Stephanopoulos asked him.
“Oh, come on. Well, I don’t think those critics know what they’re talking about,” Biden said. “They’re just wrong… Look, Trump is a pathological liar. You ever see Trump do anything for the benefit of somebody else, not him?
“I convinced myself of two things: I’m the most qualified person to [beat him]. And I know how to get things done.”
Stephanopoulos asked him: “If you can be convinced that you cannot defeat Donald Trump, will you stand down?
“Look, I mean, if the Lord Almighty came down and says ‘Joe, get out of the race the I’d get out of the race. The Lord Almighty is not coming down. These are hypotheticals,” Biden replied.
Asked by Stephanopoulos if he would consider dropping out if his friends and allies in the Democratic Party, he said: “I’m not going to answer that question. It’s not going to happen.”
Biden vows to stay in the race against Trump as he fights for political future
In pictures: Biden rallies in Wisconsin
Biden vows that debate disaster will not ‘wipe out three and a half years of work'
At an energetic rally earlier on Friday in Madison, Wisconsin, Joe Biden said he would not permit “one 90-minute debate” to “wipe out three and a half years of work.”
In front of chanting crowds he touted his accomplishments as president, including creating “15 million new jobs” and reducing student debt for “nearly five million Americans” while putting the first Black woman on the US Supreme Court.
Trump throws a Clarence Thomas-sized wrench into Mar-a-Lago case after Supreme Court immunity ruling
Donald Trump wants to pause his classified documents case in Florida for several months so he can argue that his charges should be thrown out under the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential “immunity.”
Read the full story from Alex Woodward here:
Trump throws a Clarence Thomas-sized wrench into the Mar-a-Lago case
Trump calls for months of delays as his attorneys use the ‘immunity’ decision to derail his criminal cases
Does Kamala Harris have what it takes to beat Trump if Biden bows out?
With pressure mounting for Joe Biden to stand aside after his troubling debate performance against Donald Trump, vice president Kamala Harris has emerged as a surprisingly strong potential challenger to the ex-president.
Andrew Feinberg reports:
Does Kamala Harris have what it takes to beat Trump if Biden bows out?
The vice president is now polling better against Trump than Biden — and has become the obvious choice to replace the president should he step aside, writes Andrew Feinberg
Bden: ‘As long as I gave it my all... that’s what it’s about’
ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos asked Biden how he would feel if, after refusing calls for him to step down, Donald Trump was elected in November.
“I feel as long as I gave it my all and I did as good a job I know I can do, that’s what this is about,” Biden replied.
Biden asked if he is being honest with himself about chances of winning
In a “more personal” question, George Stephanopoulos asked Joe Biden: “Are you sure you’re being honest with yourself when you say you have the mental and physical capacity to serve another four years?”
“Yes, I am, because George, the last thing I want to do is not be able to meet that,” Biden replied.
“Some of the senior economists, the senior foreign policy specialists say, if I stop now, I go down in history as a pretty successful president. No one thought I could get there, then we got there.”
Stephanopoulos pressed him: “But are you being honest with yourself as well about your ability to defeat Donald Trump right now?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Biden said.
Watch: Biden admits he was ‘exhausted’ in debate but denies having ‘any serious condition’
Biden ABC interview to air shortly
The full sit-down interview with president Joe Biden and ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos will air shortly.
It is the first interview the president has done since his poor performance in the presidential debate against Donald Trump, during which he spoke in a raspy voice, became confused and appeared to lose his train of thought mid-sentence.
In a previous clip, Biden claimed full responsibilty for his performance, but reiterated he had been “exhausted” and “feeling terrible”.
Stay tuned for updates.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments