Biden tells ally he is weighing whether to withdraw from 2024 race against Trump: Live updates
President struggling to soothe Democratic fears about his health as Republican rival continues to gloat over Supreme Court immunity ruling shielding him from criminal prosecution
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Joe Biden has reportedly told a key ally he may not be able to continue with his 2024 campaign if he cannot change the American electorate’s mind about his health and wellbeing with his next handful of public appearances, the first indication from the president that he understands the seriousness of the damage done by his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, last week.
Biden, 81, has an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News scheduled on Friday and campaign stops in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin upcoming as he seeks to reassure voters and his party that he remains the right man to the lead the country.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates wasted no time in dismissing the story, calling the claim “absolutely false” and attacking The New York Times for not giving the West Wing sufficient time to respond to its request for comment.
Trump, 78, has meanwhile claimed that the Supreme Court’s ruling that he has “absolute” immunity from criminal prosecution for “official” acts carried out during his presidency represents a “total exoneration” of his conduct, despite being twice impeached, convicted at his hush money trial and found liable for offenses in two civil cases.
‘My pick would be Gavin Newsom’: Bill Maher calls on Biden to step aside
Comedian Bill Maher has urged Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic candidate for president amid his disastrous debate performance last week.
In an op-ed for The New York Times, Maher said that the first debate between Biden and Trump was like the “worst episode of The Golden Bachelor ever.”
He added that following the debate, he and others can no longer “ignore the obvious” about Biden’s age.
Martha McHardy has the story.
Bill Maher calls on Biden to step aside: ‘My pick would be Gavin Newsom’
‘Democrats can no longer afford to suspend disbelief,’ Bill Maher wrote in a ‘New York Times’ op-ed
President is ‘probably in better health than most of us’ says Biden campaign chair
Biden Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said on a Zoom call with around 500 donors on Monday that President Joe Biden is “probably in better health than most of us” as the campaign tried to quash concerns about the 81-year-old’s age and fitness following his terrible debate performance.
O’Malley Dillon told members of the Biden campaign’s National Finance Committee that the team is “clear-eyed, not pollyannish” regarding the less than stellar debate performance, according to CNN.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Biden campaign chair tells donors president is ‘in better health than most of us’
Donors outraged at ‘bedwetting’ accusations against those calling for president to step aside
Trump inches past Biden in crucial swing state
Donald Trump is leading Joe Biden by two points in the crucial swing state of New Hampshire, according to a survey conducted days after the president’s disastrous debate performance.
The new poll, from Saint Anselm College, found that 44 percent of voters in the Granite State would vote for Trump over Biden if the election were held today.
It constitutes a massive 12-point boost for Trump after a nearly-identical poll in December gave Biden a 10-point lead in the state.
Ariana Baio reports.
Trump inches past Biden in crucial swing state after debate flop
More than half of the survey respondents said they view both candidates unfavorably with Biden perceived slightly less favorably than Trump
A Supreme Court victory and a Democrat meltdown — why is Trump still complaining?
Eric Garcia writes:
Former president Donald Trump got almost everything he could have wanted in the past week and a half.
Not only did President Joe Biden’s performance at the debate on Thursday evening in Atlanta send the Democratic Party into a collective panic — with some even speculating that the party would need to replace the president — but Trump has received legal rulings that have benefited him and his political movement.
Nevertheless, because he is who he is, he can’t help but continue to air his grievances.
Continue reading...
A Supreme Court victory and a Democrat meltdown — yet Trump is still complaining
The court that he created has ruled his way. Joe Biden is in trouble. But it seems nothing can keep the ex-president happy
ICYMI: Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling, says it lets presidents ignore the law
President Joe Biden blasted the Supreme Court’s decision granting former and future presidents immunity from prosecution for official acts saying it gives the executive office, and possibly Donald Trump, the power “to do whatever he pleases, whenever he wants to do it.”
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Biden slams Supreme Court immunity ruling calling it ‘a terrible disservice’
President Joe Biden did not take questions after speaking on the Supreme Court ruling, despite questions swirling after his debate performance
Liz Cheney fires back at Trump after he calls for ‘televised military tribunals’
Former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney fired back at Donald Trump after the former president shared an image on his Truth Social page saying she was guilty of treason and should be tried during “televised military tribunals.”
“Donald – This is the type of thing that demonstrates yet again that you are not a stable adult,” she wrote on X, “and are not fit for office.”
The former Wyoming congresswoman was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach the former president after the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Read on...
Liz Cheney fires back at Trump after he calls for ‘televised military tribunals’
‘You are not a stable adult and are not fit for office’ said former lawmaker from Wyoming
How did Clarence Thomas help Trump in his classified documents case?
Justice Clarence Thomas joined the Supreme Court’s five other conservatives to grant Donald Trump and other presidents unprecedented immunity from criminal prosecution.
But he also wrote his own opinion taking aim at the special counsel handling the election interference case at the center of the ruling – days after Trump’s attorneys made the same arguments in a Florida courtroom.
Thomas went so far as to say that the federal judge overseeing Trump’s election interference case should reconsider whether Jack Smith was even lawfully appointed to the job, giving Trump and the judge presiding over Trump’s classified documents case more legal ammunition in his favor.
Alex Woodward reports.
Clarence Thomas just gave Trump ammunition in his classified documents case
The conservative justice goes rogue to lash out at Jack Smith’s credibility and authority
Felon Hunter Biden joins White House meetings after debate flop
Convicted felon Hunter Biden has joined White House meetings with his father Joe Biden and top aides in the wake of the president’s panic-fuelling appearance during last week’s debate against Donald Trump.
The president’s son, who was convicted on gun-related charges in federal court last month, has attended meetings with the president and his staff to prepare for Biden’s speech in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity.
Hunter traveled back to the White House with his father after the family’s visit to Camp David over the weekend and then joined a meeting to prepare for the speech, and “he ended up spending time with his dad and his family that night,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed on Tuesday.
Alex Woodward reports.
‘What the hell is happening?’: Hunter joins White House meetings after debate flop
Hunter Biden joined meetings to prepare for his father’s response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s immunity
Some Biden donors demand their money back
Top contributors to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid are inquiring about having their campaign donations refunded after the 81-year-old chief executive delivered a meandering and tottering performance at his first 2024 election debate with Donald Trump last week.
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Biden donors demand their money back after president’s debate performance
If the president stepped aside, only Kamala Harris would be able to make use of the funds
Melania ‘cuts deal with Trump’ about her future role if he wins in November
Melania Trump is unlikely to take up the role of full-time first lady if her husband wins a second term as president, according to a report.
A Trumpworld insider told Page Six that the Slovenian former model has cut a deal with Donald Trump that if he takes back the White House in November she would not have to be on first lady duty 24/7.
Ultimately, Melania believes she can be “hands-on mother and first lady at the same time,” the insider told Page Six.
Martha McHardy reports.
Melania ‘cuts deal with Trump’ about her future role if he wins the White House
Melania plans to split her time between Washington DC and New York, where the couple’s son Barron Trump is expected to attend NYU
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