Biden braces for crucial post-debate interview as Trump brands Harris with new nickname: Live updates

Republican derides vice president and says Democrat ‘choked like a dog’ at Atlanta debate

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

Joe Biden is readying himself for a major interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos to be broadcast on Friday evening that he hopes will reset his 2024 campaign and reassure voters over his fitness for office after his disastrous CNN debate performance in Atlanta, Georgia, last week.

Donald Trump has meanwhile issued a withering attack on the president and Kamala Harris, calling his rival “highly incapable” and saying he “choked like a dog” during the debate, also mocking Biden for blaming his poor performance on exhaustion and having a cold.

Turning his attention to the vice president – who is being tipped to succeed the president as the 2024 Democratic nominee – by calling her “Laffin Kamala Harris”, a new nickname alluding to her infectious chuckle.

“She did poorly in the Democrat Nominating process, starting out at Number Two, and ending up defeated and dropping out, even before getting to Iowa, but that doesn’t mean she’s not a “highly talented” politician!” the presumptive Republican nominee crowed on his Truth Social platform.

In a second post, Trump challenged Biden to “another Debate, but this time, no holds barred”, despite one already being scheduled for September 10 on ABC.

Key Points

• Biden braces for crucial post-debate interview as Trump attacks ‘Liddle’ George Stephanopoulos
• Trump lands Harris with new nickname and says Biden ‘choked like a dog’ in Fourth of July message
• Republican challenges president to ‘no holds barred’ second debate
• Biden uses Independence Day to blast Trump for turning US ‘into monarchy’
• Golf cart video reveals Trump saying ‘broken down pile of c***’ Biden is ‘quitting’ White House race

[4 July 2024 15:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

Noem says Americans can’t relate to Harris

Conservatives seem to absolutely despise “cackling” Kamala Harris but if there’s one person who should probably keep quiet about being “relatable”, it’s South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, who assumed that telling the world she had murdered her dog would be a guaranteed vote-winner.

[4 July 2024 14:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

How would replacing Biden actually work?

Although the president’s campaign insists he is “absolutely not dropping out”, here is Eric Garcia with a look at the mechanics of replacing him at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket, just in case.

[4 July 2024 14:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

DNC committee member proposes alternative way to replace Biden

James Zogby, a former adviser to Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders, has proposed a plan to have an open contest for the Democratic presidential nomination after the incumbent’s disastrous appearance in the first debate last week, writes Eric Garcia.

[4 July 2024 13:30 · Joe Sommerlad]

Biden insiders think there’s ‘no question’ 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 Biden vehemently denies any intention to stand aside.

Here’s the latest from Andrew Feinberg.

[4 July 2024 13:00 · Joe Sommerlad]

‘Everybody wants him to quit’: Democrats continue to pounce on Biden as doubts swirl over his political future

Despite the president’s best efforts, senior Democrats remain in “panic mode” after Biden insisted he would not abandon his presidential re-election campaign despite serious concerns growing over his mental fitness for office.

Anonymous lawmakers described the situation facing Biden and the Democratic party in a pointed interview with Politico.

“Everybody wants him to quit. There’s a sense of despair,” the unnamed lawmaker told the outlet.

“I think people don’t understand how we get out of this hole. And we’re hurtling toward losing to Trump.

“All my text chains in Congress go from a dark humor to ‘let’s take action’… I don’t find any discernible group of people who actually believe we’re going to win with Joe Biden.”

Mike Bedigan has the latest.