Biden admits he ‘screwed up’ debate as Trump continues to pull ahead in new polls: Live updates

Democrat concedes he had ‘a bad night’ on stage in Atlanta as Republican rival sneers at possibility of Kamala Harris succeeding him

White House says Biden 'staying in the race' for re-election

Joe Biden has conceded he “screwed up” at last week’s disastrous CNN presidential debate against Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, as pressure on him to step aside continues amid worrying polling, particularly in key battleground states.

“I had a bad night,” the president told a Wisconsin radio host on Thursday.

“And the fact of the matter is that I screwed up. I made a mistake. That’s 90 minutes on stage, look at what I’ve done in three-and-a-half years.”

On Wednesday, Biden hotly denied he was dropping out and met with Democratic governors to reassure them about his readiness for the fight.

Meanwhile, a gloating Trump has posted a video to Truth Social in which he is seen falsely claiming that the embattled president has already quit the race for the White House, referring to him as “broken down pile of c***” and ridiculing his vice president Kamala Harris as “pathetic”.

The Republican presidential candidate has largely resisted the lure of the limelight in recent days, preferring to allow the crisis engulfing the Democrats over Biden’s health and fitness to serve another term to play out naturally.

Key Points

• Biden admits he ‘screwed up’ in first Trump debate
• Trump falsely claims ‘broken down’ Biden is quitting White House race and derides ‘pathetic’ Harris
• Biden insists ‘I’m not leaving’ as allies prepare for campaign end
• White House staffers preparing to move Kamala to the top of the ticket: ‘It’s a case of when, not if’
• Michelle Obama is the only Democrat who can beat Trump, new poll finds

[4 July 2024 09:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Trump falsely claims ‘broken down’ Biden is quitting White House race and derides ‘pathetic’ Harris

Good morning – and happy Fourth of July!

Donald Trump has posted a video to his Truth Social platform in which he is seen falsely claiming that embattled president Joe Biden has already quit the 2024 race for the White House and deriding the prospect of vice president Kamala Harris succeeding him.

The Republican presidential candidate is seen slouched behind the wheel of a golf buggy alongside his teenage son Barron Trump and declaring to an unidentified third party: “How did I do with the debate the other night? I kicked that old, broken down pile of c***.

“He just quit, you know – he’s quitting the race... and that means we have Kamala. I think she’s going to be better,” Trump mutters sarcastically.

“She’s so pathetic, she’s so f***ing bad. Can you imagine... dealing with [Vladimir] Putin, the president of China – who’s a fierce person, he’s a fierce man, a very tough guy...” he adds, before driving off across the green.

Here’s our story.

[4 July 2024 08:00 · Gustaf Kilander]

VIDEO: Broke Billionaire? Trump Delays Personal Financial Disclosures

[4 July 2024 07:00 · Alex Woodward]

Biden insists ‘I’m not leaving’ while allies prepare for end of his campaign

President Joe Biden has insisted to his campaign staff that no one is pushing him out and that he’s “not leaving” his re-election campaign after multiple reports have suggested that he is preparing to drop out if he fails crucial campaign tests in the days and weeks ahead.

“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running,” he reportedly told campaign staff on a call on Wednesday.

“No one’s pushing me out,” he said. “I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”

The president reportedly admitted that he will have to end his re-election campaign if he cannot convince voters that he is up for the job after his flailing performance at last week’s debate against Donald Trump.

A key ally to the president told The New York Times that while Mr Biden remains committed to the race, his next several crucial public appearances could shape his plans for 2024.

[4 July 2024 06:00 · Alex Woodward]

How the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling opened the door for a shocking question: Can presidents kill their rivals?

Can a president order a rival’s assassination and get away with it?

It was an absurd hypothetical raised by an appeals court judge to point out the literally unbelievable and dangerous consequences of the legal argument from Donald Trump’s attorneys.

But it landed as a shocking warning from a Supreme Court justice in an earthquaking decision this week that shields Trump from accountability for crimes committed in office.

There has never been any legal precedent that would give a president such authority. But according to legal scholars, attorneys and the Supreme Court’s liberal justices, the decision has seemingly opened the door to question whether the commander in chief can commit legal murder.

[4 July 2024 05:00 · The Independent]

VIDEO: How much does charisma matter in politics and should it?

[4 July 2024 04:00 · Gustaf Kilander]

Some of Biden’s wealthiest donors are privately turning on the president

Some of Joe Biden’s biggest donors are privately turning their backs on him - but most of them are keeping their powder dry, worrying that any move against the president may backfire, according to The New York Times.

Late on Tuesday, donors were monitoring the most recent polls following Biden’s dismal debate performance last week against Trump, where he mumbled and appeared to lose his train of thought at times.

The Times reported on Wednesday that Biden has told an ally that he may end his re-election campaign if he cannot convince voters over the next few days that he’s up to the job.

[4 July 2024 03:00 · Andrew Feinberg]

Biden insiders think there’s ‘no question’ Kamala Harris will move to top of ticket

Campaign staffers are preparing to shift their focus to elevating, then electing, Vice President Kamala Harris, sources have told The Independent, even as Joe Biden vehemently denies any intention to stand aside from the 2024 election race.

A steady stream of Democrats have begun calling for Biden to withdraw his candidacy after he spent the 90-minute face-off against former President Donald Trump delivering a number of rambling, nonsensical answers and appearing to lose his train of thought on multiple occasions, leaving supporters aghast at his condition.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spent much of Wednesday’s press briefing telling reporters that it is Biden’s intention to stay in, and he reportedly told campaign staff on a conference call earlier in the day that he intends to remain on the ballot in this year’s election. A Biden campaign spokesperson, Seth Schuster, told The Independent that Biden is “absolutely not dropping out.”

[4 July 2024 02:00 · Ariana Baio]

Obama privately told allies that he’s concerned about Biden’s path to re-election

Barack Obama has privately raised concerns about Joe Biden’s path to re-election after his shaky debate performance, a sharp deviation from his public comments.

The former president has told allies that he is worried about Democrats’ ability to defeat Donald Trump in November and has warned Biden in recent months about the challenges ahead, according toThe Washington Post.

Before the first presidential debate last week, Obama reminded his friend and former vice president about the stakes of the campaign. This echoes his long-held concerns about Trump’s political strength going into the 2024 election, the report says.

[4 July 2024 01:00 · Gustaf Kilander]

VIDEO: Democrats concerned over Biden's wellbeing

[4 July 2024 00:00 · Eric Garcia]

DNC committee member proposes alternative way to replace Biden

One member of the Democratic National Committee has proposed a method to replace President Joe Biden, should he decide to not seek re-election.

Insiders told The Independent that they believe there is “no question” Vice President Kamala Harris would receive the baton if Biden chose not to run in November. The White House strongly denied that the president is considering bowing out of the race, however.

This scramble comes after Biden’s poor performance against former president Donald Trump during last week’s debate in Atlanta.