Biden’s make-or-break interview fails to win over skeptics as top Democrats plan crisis meeting: Live
‘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
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President Joe Biden’s interview with ABC News on Friday evening hasn’t dissuaded fears about his mental acuity just yet, as he faces growing calls to step down from Democratic lawmakers.
In a 22-minute uncut interview with George Stephanopoulos, the president assured Americans he is fit to run for president and could defeat his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, in November.
But he stopped short of committing to undergoing an independent cognitive examination, given how poorly his debate performance went last week. Biden’s soft-spoken interview with the news outlet seemingly failed to exceed expectations.
By Saturday morning, a fifth Democratic lawmaker called on Biden to drop out of the race.
Democratic House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries has apparently scheduled a virtual meeting on Sunday with senior House Democrats to discuss Biden’s path forward, according to reports.
So far, the president has remained adamant he will continue running for president.
Biden did not watch disastrous debate performance back after
President Biden said he did not watch his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump back afterwards.
Asked by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos during his first interview since the debate last week, if he knew how badly it had been going in real time, he replied: “Look, the whole way I prepared, it was nobody’s fault but mine. I prepared what I usually would do, sitting down…”
Pivoting towards his rival, Trump, he continued: “The fact of the matter is that what I looked at is that he also lied 28 times I couldn’t. I mean, the way the debate ran [it was] my fault, nobody else’s fault.
Stephanopoulos pressed: “But it seemed like you were having trouble from the first question. In, even before [Trump] spoke.”
“Well, I just had a bad night,” Biden replied.
Could Michelle Obama replace Biden as Democratic nominee – and beat Trump?
The former first lady would certainly be a popular choice, according to the polls, but has repeatedly said she wants no further involvement in the cut-throat world of politics.
Martha McHardy looks at the case for Michelle Obama stepping up to the plate.
Could Michelle Obama replace Biden – and beat Trump?
The former first lady has repeatedly insisted she will not run for the White House
Biden says debate performance was 'nobody’s fault but mine’
President Joe Biden has claimed full responsibility for his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last week.
In a new sit-down interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, due to air in full at 8pm, the president reiterated that he had been ill prior to the debate, but said his performance was “nobody’s fault but mine.”
In a clip, broadcast earlier on the network’s “World News Tonight”, the president addressed concerns raised by senior Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi, about whether the debate was a sign of a more serious condition.
“It was a bad episode, no indication of any serious condition. I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing. It was a bad night,” he said.
Biden had indeed had a busy schedule prior to the debate, including visits to the US West Coast and France for the D-Day anniversary, but had returned to Washington with more than a week in hand.
Asked why 11 or 12 days was not enough recovery time, he replied: “Because I was sick. I was feeling terrible. Matter of fact, the doctors with me, I asked that they did a Covid test. We were trying to figure out what was wrong.
“They did a test to see whether or not I had some infection, you know, a virus – I didn’t. I just had a really bad cold.”
The full ABC interviews with Biden is set to air at 8pm ET.
Who could replace Joe Biden?
Joe Biden is not technically the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. Not yet.
So is it possible for Joe Biden to drop out? And who would replace him at the top of the Democratic ballot?
John Bowden takes a look:
Who could replace Joe Biden? Debate performance has Democrats in crisis talks
The president gave his party a reality check last week. Where can Democrats go from here?
How would replacing Biden actually work? The answer is as murky as the president’s stance on his future
Democratic insiders have 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.
But a Biden campaign spokesperson said that the president is “absolutely not dropping out.”
If he did, Democrats would have to pick a new presidential nominee. And the logistics surrounding that are not simple.
Eric Garcia explains:
What happens if Biden drops out of the race?
Biden campaign spokesperson insisted that the president is ‘absolutely not dropping out’ of race against Donald Trump
Video: Biden says he is ‘completely ruling out’ exiting the presidential race
Watch: Biden vows to stay in the race against Trump as he fights for political future
Just in: Biden 'completely' rules out exiting 2024 presidential race
Biden ‘completely’ rules out exiting 2024 race amid pressure for him to quit
President Biden on Friday said he won’t consider standing down from his campaign for a second term in the White House despite growing pressure from him to do so from Democratic members of Congress and donors to his party.
Biden’s ‘make or break’ interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopolous could last just 15 minutes
Biden’s hotly anticipated interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopolous could fall short in more ways than one. The president has reportedly been set aside only around 15 minutes.
How Biden’s ‘make or break’ interview with ABC News could fall short
The interview is being pitted as a critical test for Biden, who is facing a growing chorus of calls to step down
Democratic senators split on Biden’s future as some want new blood at top of ticket, report claims
Virginia Senator Senator Mark Warner is looking to lead a group of Democratic senators that want President Joe Biden to step aside before November’s election, according to The Washington Post.
Warner is reportedly saying to colleagues that Biden can’t stay in the race following his dismal debate performance and that he’s worried that Biden cannot run a campaign that will defeat former president Donald Trump.
Democratic senators split on Biden’s future, report claims
No sitting senator has publicly called for Biden to step aside but in private they have spoken about their rising unease
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