Should Joe Biden step down after Harris ‘Trump’ and Zelensky ‘Putin’ gaffes? Join The Independent Debate
The current US president remains defiant about his candidacy – but do you think he’s best placed to run for a second term in November?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden is under growing pressure from Democratic officials to end his re-election campaign – and we want to know if you think this is the right move.
At a high-stakes press conference on Thursday, Biden mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump”. Moments earlier, he introduced Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky as “president Putin”.
The slips came as Biden, 81, faces intense scrutiny over his fitness for office and viability against Republican rival Donald Trump.
Arriving on stage, Biden aimed to reassure both party officials and voters of his capability to campaign effectively over the next four months. But, addressing a series of questions, Biden asserted: “I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump if she’s not qualified to be president,” before correcting his error.
When asked if he would consider stepping down if polling showed Harris had a better chance against Trump, Biden whispered, “No one’s saying that.”
Biden remained defiant about his candidacy, citing his track record and international accomplishments, especially highlighted during the recent NATO summit.
“I’m the most qualified person to beat Trump. I beat him once, I’ll beat him again,” he stated.
But we want to know what you think. Is Biden best placed to run in November? Should Harris take his place?
Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.
You can also have your say in the poll below:
All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines, which can be found here. For a full guide on how to comment click here.
Join the conversation with other Independent readers below.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments