WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden inadvertently confused the names of Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican contender Donald Trump during a news conference on Thursday, but he reiterated his intention to continue his re-election campaign despite increasing calls from fellow Democrats to step aside.
Biden, aged 81, emphasized his extensive international experience, claiming it uniquely positions him to defeat former President Trump, 78, and lead the nation for another term. “The only thing age does is create a little bit of wisdom if you pay attention,” Biden remarked, defending his candidacy as he becomes the oldest individual to ever serve as U.S. president.
Since a lackluster debate performance against Trump two weeks ago, Biden has faced mounting skepticism from donors, supporters, and Democratic colleagues regarding his ability to secure a victory in the November 5 election and manage the demands of the presidency.
At the start of the nearly hour-long press conference, Biden confused Harris with Trump. “Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if she was not qualified to be president. So start there,” he responded to a question about his confidence in Harris.
Throughout the press conference, Biden frequently coughed and occasionally stumbled over his words, trailing off before completing his thoughts. However, he provided detailed answers on topics such as the Israel-Gaza conflict and the need for increased military production to counter threats from Russia and China.
Earlier in the day, Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “President Putin” at the NATO summit in Washington, eliciting gasps from attendees.
Biden’s campaign has struggled since his subpar debate performance. Sixteen House Democrats and one Senate Democrat have publicly urged him to withdraw from the race. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut joined this group after the press conference, stating, “We must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump’s promised MAGA authoritarianism. I no longer believe that is Joe Biden.”
Despite overcoming a childhood stutter and frequently misspeaking throughout his career, Biden maintains his health is in good shape and is open to taking another neurological exam if recommended by his doctors.
A White House official, speaking anonymously, expressed uncertainty about whether the news conference would bolster support on Capitol Hill. While some donors praised Biden’s performance, others doubted it would alleviate concerns over his verbal slip-ups.
Biden acknowledged he needs to “pace myself” and mentioned that his aides sometimes overburden his schedule, adding humorously, “I’m catching hell from my wife.”
During the NATO summit, Biden highlighted his achievements, including supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, advocating for an end to the Israel-Gaza war, and integrating Sweden and Finland into the alliance. He warned that Trump would weaken NATO and raise prices for U.S. consumers through high tariffs on imports.
On Thursday, United Auto Workers union officials met to discuss concerns about Biden’s candidacy. The union, with a significant presence in key industrial states, endorsed Biden in January but now shows signs of wavering support.
Although no Democratic leaders in Congress have called for Biden to end his candidacy, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declined to endorse his re-election bid on Wednesday.
The Biden campaign has reportedly commissioned a survey to gauge how Vice President Kamala Harris would perform as a candidate against Trump. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated Harris would fare no better than Biden in such a matchup.
Prominent donors, including actor George Clooney, have urged Biden to drop out, and there are signs of growing concern within his campaign team. Reports suggest some advisors and campaign staffers are considering ways to persuade him to exit the race.
The poll shows Biden and Trump tied at 40% each. Other polls indicate Trump leading Biden, with some strategists warning Trump could win traditionally Democratic states like New Hampshire and Minnesota.
Biden’s campaign remains focused on winning key battleground states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Securing victories in these states, along with other reliably Democratic regions, would give Biden the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Biden previously won 306 electoral votes in 2020. The campaign maintains that other battleground states won in 2020 are still “not out of reach.”
