Biden Defiant on Campaign Trail Amid Mounting Pressure

AFP/APP

Detroit: A fired-up Joe Biden, determined to stay in the US presidential race, attempted to shift focus onto rival Donald Trump as he resumed his crisis-hit reelection bid in Michigan on Friday.

Addressing an energetic rally in the battleground state, Biden dismissed speculation about his potential withdrawal despite increasing calls from Democrats for him to step aside following a poor debate performance against Trump.

“There’s been a lot of speculation lately. What’s Joe Biden going to do, is he going to stay in the race, is he going to drop out?” Biden told supporters in Detroit, amidst chants of “Don’t you quit!” He firmly responded, “I am running and we’re going to win! I’m not going to change that.”

Despite Biden’s defiant stance, opposition within his party has grown. Nineteen Democratic lawmakers have urged him to withdraw due to concerns about his health and mental acuity after his debate struggles on June 27. At his first solo news conference in eight months, Biden emphasized his qualifications, watched by 24.2 million people in the US, nearly half the number who viewed the debate.

‘President Not a Dictator’

Biden faced scrutiny for several gaffes at the NATO summit in Washington, including mistakenly referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” and confusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the Detroit rally, Biden attempted to downplay these errors.

Reporters in Detroit were booed after Biden accused them of “hammering me because I sometimes confuse names.” He then urged the media to focus on Trump’s “lies” and “Project 2025,” a power blueprint by hard-line conservatives. Trump, 78, denies involvement with the program. Biden emphasized, “Americans want a president, not a dictator,” and vowed to prevent Trump’s autocratic ambitions.

Earlier, Biden assured supporters at a diner, “I promise you I am OK,” attributing his debate performance to jet lag and illness. His campaign plans to maintain a rigorous travel schedule to counter doubts about his stamina and sharpness. 

“The president understands there’s still some anxiety,” said Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler. “That’s why he’s laser-focused on demonstrating that he is the best person to take on Donald Trump.”

‘Gaffes for 40 Years’

Tyler downplayed Biden’s verbal slip-ups, noting, “Joe Biden has been making gaffes for 40 years, he made a couple last night, he probably will continue to do so.” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Biden on Thursday and discussed the path forward, though details were not disclosed.

Next week, Biden will visit Texas and Nevada to engage with Black and Latino voters and will give a major network interview to NBC on Monday. Concerns over Biden’s campaign have impacted Democratic donors, with prominent supporter George Clooney urging Biden to step aside and other key donors withholding around $90 million in pledged donations if he continues his run, according to the New York Times.