President Joe Biden and his team are still scrambling to assure voters he’s capable of running the country after his poor debate performance last week while former President Donald Trump is riding high on a big win at the Supreme Court.
A New York Times/Siena poll and a Wall Street Journal poll, both released Wednesday, showed Biden trailing Trump by 6 percentage points after last week’s presidential debate. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have both attempted to rally staffers about his ability to govern, with Biden saying “no one’s pushing me out.”
Trump, meanwhile, is enjoying the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision in his immunity case, which prompted Judge Juan Merchan in New York City to delay the sentencing in his hush money trial until September and likely punted a trial on his Jan. 6, 2021, charges until after the November election.
See our previous reporting on the 2024 race here.
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Biden Rejects Calls To Drop Out. Here's The Latest.
- The president called into “Morning Joe” for about 15 minutes Monday morning, appearing defiant in the face of growing calls for him to drop out of the race.
- During the interview, Biden challenged his critics within the party to run against him at the Democratic National Convention next month.
- Earlier this morning, Biden sent a letter to Congressional Democrats, projecting confidence he will defeat Trump in November despite polls painting a more complicated picture of his reelection bid.
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a prominent Democrat who has been floated as potential Biden replacement, told The Associated Press she has no plans to run for president even if Biden were to drop out.
- Over the weekend, more Democrats cast doubt on Biden’s White House bid. Senior Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) joined a private leadership call with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, where they said Biden should withdraw his candidacy.
- Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) tried to plan a call for today with his fellow Senate Democrats to discuss Biden’s political future. The meeting was reportedly scrapped over privacy concerns.
- Biden aides are reportedly speculating about the identity of a senior White House official who told The New York Times the president shouldn’t be seeking reelection.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Says It ‘Wouldn’t Hurt’ For Biden To Take Cognitive Test
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) said Wednesday night that it “wouldn’t hurt” for Biden to take a cognitive test, although she said she remains supportive of the president’s reelection bid in an interview with CNN.
“He shows up every day and fights for the American public,” Whitmer told CNN’s Abby Phillip. “We have a field, and unless one person, Joe Biden, makes an alternative decision, this is the field, and we’ve got to go.”
The governor added that some people “want to just pick a couple of random leaders that they like across the country and design a ticket.”
“That’s just not how this works,” Whitmer said. “We have a president who’s gotten a nomination, who’s earned it.”
“He shows up every day and fights for the American public,” Whitmer told CNN’s Abby Phillip. “We have a field, and unless one person, Joe Biden, makes an alternative decision, this is the field, and we’ve got to go.”
The governor added that some people “want to just pick a couple of random leaders that they like across the country and design a ticket.”
“That’s just not how this works,” Whitmer said. “We have a president who’s gotten a nomination, who’s earned it.”
Giorgio Viera via Getty Images
Donald Trump Slams George Clooney For Weighing In On Presidential Election
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday night, Trump attacked actor George Clooney, who recently wrote an opinion article calling on Biden to drop out of the presidential election.
“So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act. He’s turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are. What does Clooney know about anything?” he wrote.
“He uses the Democrat 'talking point' that Biden, the WORST President in the history of the United States, has 'saved our Democracy' …. Crooked Joe Biden didn’t save our Democracy, he brought our Democracy to its knees. Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television. Movies never really worked for him!!!”
“So now fake movie actor George Clooney, who never came close to making a great movie, is getting into the act. He’s turned on Crooked Joe like the rats they both are. What does Clooney know about anything?” he wrote.
“He uses the Democrat 'talking point' that Biden, the WORST President in the history of the United States, has 'saved our Democracy' …. Crooked Joe Biden didn’t save our Democracy, he brought our Democracy to its knees. Clooney should get out of politics and go back to television. Movies never really worked for him!!!”
Nadler: 'We All Have To Support' Biden
Everything's Set For Trump's VP Pick
The Trump team has plenty of opportunities this week to drum up enthusiasm for the announcement of his running mate, the Associated Press reports.
Senior advisers insist they don't know who the former president will pick.
Senior advisers insist they don't know who the former president will pick.
Former Aide: Trump Is 'Afraid' Of Harris
Former Trump White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin said there's a reason the former president isn't really "out there shouting about the debate" with Biden.
That's because he "knows that Joe Biden will lose to him" but he's "afraid" of Kamala Harris, Griffin told "The View."
That's because he "knows that Joe Biden will lose to him" but he's "afraid" of Kamala Harris, Griffin told "The View."
Haberman: Trump Advisers' Fears Playing Out Before Election
The New York Times' Maggie Haberman told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that Trump aides have been "frustrated" by the Biden campaign linking the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 playbook to Trump.
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File
Trump Doesn’t Think Biden Will Drop Out: ‘Nobody Wants To Give Up That Way’
Trump said Monday night he doesn’t think Biden will drop his reelection bid amid concerns about his age, saying his competitor has an “ego” and “nobody wants to give up that way.”
Trump spoke to Fox News host Sean Hannity as Biden seeks to staunch his political losses in Washington this week following the president’s troubling performance at their debate matchup last month.
“It looks to me like he may very well stay in. He’s got an ego and he doesn’t want to quit,” Trump said. “He doesn’t want to do that. It looks to me like that's what he wants."
Trump spoke to Fox News host Sean Hannity as Biden seeks to staunch his political losses in Washington this week following the president’s troubling performance at their debate matchup last month.
“It looks to me like he may very well stay in. He’s got an ego and he doesn’t want to quit,” Trump said. “He doesn’t want to do that. It looks to me like that's what he wants."
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Says It Stands With Biden
The chair and deputy chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus threw their support behind Biden and Harris on Monday, championing the president’s work to “empower Latino communities across the country.”
“President Biden and his administration have worked closely with House Democrats to make historic investments to positively impact communities across the country,” Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) and Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “We look forward to our continued partnership on the road and legislative wins to benefit the American people.”
“President Biden and his administration have worked closely with House Democrats to make historic investments to positively impact communities across the country,” Reps. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) and Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “We look forward to our continued partnership on the road and legislative wins to benefit the American people.”
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Biden Has Not Seen Neurologist Outside Of Annual Physicals, White House Doctor Says
Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physicals, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the physician to the president, said in a memo on Monday evening after reports that a Parkinson’s expert had visited the White House eight times in eight months.
The last time Biden had a physical, on Feb. 28, he received an “extremely detailed neurologic exam” that concluded there were no findings consistent with any central neurological disorder, including stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s.
The White House released the memo amid tense questioning by the media on Monday following reports that the expert, Dr. Kevin Cannard, had regularly visited in recent months.
The memo said those visits were part of regular neurology clinics at the White House to support “the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations.”
“Many military personnel experience neurological issues related their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice,” the memo says.
The last time Biden had a physical, on Feb. 28, he received an “extremely detailed neurologic exam” that concluded there were no findings consistent with any central neurological disorder, including stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s.
The White House released the memo amid tense questioning by the media on Monday following reports that the expert, Dr. Kevin Cannard, had regularly visited in recent months.
The memo said those visits were part of regular neurology clinics at the White House to support “the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations.”
“Many military personnel experience neurological issues related their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice,” the memo says.
Rep. Bennie Thompson Says Congressional Black Caucus ‘Felt Very Good’ About Meeting With Biden
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said Monday night the Congressional Black Caucus felt “very good” after meeting with Biden as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill.
“The Congressional Black Caucus, historically, has been very supportive of the Democratic nominee. Joe Biden is no different,” Thompson told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “In return, the policies that he’s promoted have been very beneficial to our constituency.
“So we heard from him, we felt very good and we understand. But we will take Joe Biden any day over a convicted felon.”
Thompson went on to say that Democrats would need to rally behind the president if he remains in the race and said he believed an overwhelming majority of the CBC would support his bid.
“My plea to my Democratic colleagues is, sure you can express yourself, but at some point, if Joe Biden continues to run the campaign and he’s a nominee, we all have to rally behind him,” he said on CNN. “His record speaks for itself.”
“The Congressional Black Caucus, historically, has been very supportive of the Democratic nominee. Joe Biden is no different,” Thompson told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “In return, the policies that he’s promoted have been very beneficial to our constituency.
“So we heard from him, we felt very good and we understand. But we will take Joe Biden any day over a convicted felon.”
Thompson went on to say that Democrats would need to rally behind the president if he remains in the race and said he believed an overwhelming majority of the CBC would support his bid.
“My plea to my Democratic colleagues is, sure you can express yourself, but at some point, if Joe Biden continues to run the campaign and he’s a nominee, we all have to rally behind him,” he said on CNN. “His record speaks for itself.”
Sen. Patty Murray Says Joe Biden Needs To ‘Seriously Consider’ Legacy
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who is the Senate president pro tempore, said Monday that Democrats need to see Biden be “much more forceful and energetic” on the campaign trial “in the very near future.”
The lawmaker went on to say the president needs to convince voters “he is up to the job,” adding he should consider how best to move forward.
"At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future,” she said.
The lawmaker went on to say the president needs to convince voters “he is up to the job,” adding he should consider how best to move forward.
"At this critical time for our country, President Biden must seriously consider the best way to preserve his incredible legacy and secure it for the future,” she said.
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
AOC: ‘Joe Biden Is Our Nominee’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Biden would not be leaving the race and that the president had her support moving forward.
“What I think is critically important right now is that we focus on what it takes to win in November because he is running against Donald Trump,” the Democrat told reporters on Monday, per NBC News’ Ryan Nobles.
“(Trump) is a man with 34 felony convictions that has been convicted of 34 felony crimes, and not a single Republican has asked for Donald Trump to not be the nominee.”
Ocasio-Cortez said she had spoken to Biden over the weekend.
“What I think is critically important right now is that we focus on what it takes to win in November because he is running against Donald Trump,” the Democrat told reporters on Monday, per NBC News’ Ryan Nobles.
“(Trump) is a man with 34 felony convictions that has been convicted of 34 felony crimes, and not a single Republican has asked for Donald Trump to not be the nominee.”
Ocasio-Cortez said she had spoken to Biden over the weekend.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Says He Supports Biden: ‘My Position Has Not Changed’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) reiterated his support for Biden on Monday as lawmakers were returning to the Capitol after a two-week break.
“I made clear, the day after the debate, publicly, that I support President Joe Biden and the Democratic ticket,” Jeffries told reporters. “My position has not changed.”
“I made clear, the day after the debate, publicly, that I support President Joe Biden and the Democratic ticket,” Jeffries told reporters. “My position has not changed.”
2 Democratic Senators Raise Concerns About Biden's Candidacy
Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) each released statements Monday effectively calling on Biden to prove he's capable of winning the election.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Warner said Biden needs to "more aggressively make his case to the American people” and listen to “a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trump’s lawlessness from returning to the White House.”
Warner had helped organize a call on Monday in which Senate Democrats were poised to talk about Biden’s candidacy. But the call was reportedly canceled over privacy concerns.
Heinrich’s statement, also released on X, called on Biden to show that his subpar debate performance was an isolated occurrence.
“However, what I care most about is the preservation of our democracy. President Biden needs to continue to demonstrate that his debate performance was just a bad night and that he has a clear path to defeating Donald Trump,” Heinrich said. “Our democracy hangs in the balance.”
Like Warner and Heinrich, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) also spoke out Monday about the importance of beating Donald Trump, according to HuffPost’s Igor Bobic. However, Schatz did not directly address issues with Biden’s candidacy but instead pushed for “in-person family conversations.”
“The most important thing for Democrats or for the country is to beat Donald Trump,” Schatz told reporters. “And so it's important that we have in-person family conversations about the best way to do that. And I'm not going to comment further.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Warner said Biden needs to "more aggressively make his case to the American people” and listen to “a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trump’s lawlessness from returning to the White House.”
Warner had helped organize a call on Monday in which Senate Democrats were poised to talk about Biden’s candidacy. But the call was reportedly canceled over privacy concerns.
Heinrich’s statement, also released on X, called on Biden to show that his subpar debate performance was an isolated occurrence.
“However, what I care most about is the preservation of our democracy. President Biden needs to continue to demonstrate that his debate performance was just a bad night and that he has a clear path to defeating Donald Trump,” Heinrich said. “Our democracy hangs in the balance.”
Like Warner and Heinrich, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) also spoke out Monday about the importance of beating Donald Trump, according to HuffPost’s Igor Bobic. However, Schatz did not directly address issues with Biden’s candidacy but instead pushed for “in-person family conversations.”
“The most important thing for Democrats or for the country is to beat Donald Trump,” Schatz told reporters. “And so it's important that we have in-person family conversations about the best way to do that. And I'm not going to comment further.”
Biden To Hold Q&A With Congressional Black Caucus Tonight: Report
Biden will meet with and take questions from the Congressional Black Caucus this evening, according to an Axios report.
The president's campaign says the meeting will cover the "stakes of the 2024 election and their shared commitment to beating Donald Trump this November.”
The president's campaign says the meeting will cover the "stakes of the 2024 election and their shared commitment to beating Donald Trump this November.”
Rep. Adam Smith On Biden: ‘I Think He Should Step Aside’
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, publicly called for Biden to step aside, and suggested that the Democratic nomination go to Kamala Harris.
“I think he should step aside. I think it’s become clear that he’s not the best person to carry the Democratic message,” Smith told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday.
Asked if Biden’s debate performance was the deciding factor, Smith said there were “concerns leading up to it.”
"The president’s performance in the debate was alarming to watch, and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as president," he said.
Smith said his feelings aren't personal and that he believes Biden is a good president. He added that focusing on Biden's mental acuity is a distraction from the threat Trump poses.
“Look at what is best for the party, what is best for the country. Personally, I think Kamala Harris would be a much better, stronger candidate. And because she is, constitutionally, the second, that’s the way it’s supposed to work,” Smith said.
He continued: “If we get through the convention and he’s the nominee, I’m all in. But I know in my heart and my soul and my brain that we can do better and I know what the stakes are.”
Smith joined a group of several senior House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), in calling for the end of Biden's reelection campaign.
“I think he should step aside. I think it’s become clear that he’s not the best person to carry the Democratic message,” Smith told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday.
Asked if Biden’s debate performance was the deciding factor, Smith said there were “concerns leading up to it.”
"The president’s performance in the debate was alarming to watch, and the American people have made it clear they no longer see him as a credible candidate to serve four more years as president," he said.
Smith said his feelings aren't personal and that he believes Biden is a good president. He added that focusing on Biden's mental acuity is a distraction from the threat Trump poses.
“Look at what is best for the party, what is best for the country. Personally, I think Kamala Harris would be a much better, stronger candidate. And because she is, constitutionally, the second, that’s the way it’s supposed to work,” Smith said.
He continued: “If we get through the convention and he’s the nominee, I’m all in. But I know in my heart and my soul and my brain that we can do better and I know what the stakes are.”
Smith joined a group of several senior House Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), in calling for the end of Biden's reelection campaign.
Updated GOP Convention Schedule Released
An updated schedule for the 2024 GOP Convention is out and can be viewed on the event's website.
The event takes place next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The event takes place next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Is Dark Brandon Back?
When a voter told Biden Democrats needed Dark Brandon to come back, Biden obliged.
“Dark Brandon is coming back,” he said, rousing the crowd into applause.
Biden had embraced this persona, with Brandon introduced last year by Trump supporters to insult the president.
Since then, Biden has sold campaign merch declaring the era of Dark Brandon.
“Dark Brandon is coming back,” he said, rousing the crowd into applause.
Biden had embraced this persona, with Brandon introduced last year by Trump supporters to insult the president.
Since then, Biden has sold campaign merch declaring the era of Dark Brandon.
RNC’s 2024 Platform Reads Like Something Trump Came Up With All By Himself
The RNC Platform Committee just adopted the party’s 2024 platform ahead of their convention next week. Judging from a copy distributed by NBC News’ Sahil Kapur, the “committee” may as well have been the whims of one man: Donald Trump.
The document refers to Trump, who repeatedly attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election, as “an unapologetic Champion of the American People,” and credits him for spurring “Historic Economic Growth, Job Creation, and a Resurgence of American Manufacturing,” none of which are true.
An all-caps list segmenting the platform into 20 distinct bullet points shows considerable overlap, especially concerning immigration. In addition to pledging to “STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION,” the platform also calls to “STOP THE MIGRANT CRIME EPIDEMIC,” “CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY,” and “DEPORT PRO-HAMAS RADICALS.”
The list also includes other vague and misleading items like, “END THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,” “CANCEL THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE,” and “KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS.”
The document refers to Trump, who repeatedly attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election, as “an unapologetic Champion of the American People,” and credits him for spurring “Historic Economic Growth, Job Creation, and a Resurgence of American Manufacturing,” none of which are true.
An all-caps list segmenting the platform into 20 distinct bullet points shows considerable overlap, especially concerning immigration. In addition to pledging to “STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION,” the platform also calls to “STOP THE MIGRANT CRIME EPIDEMIC,” “CARRY OUT THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY,” and “DEPORT PRO-HAMAS RADICALS.”
The list also includes other vague and misleading items like, “END THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,” “CANCEL THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE,” and “KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN’S SPORTS.”
Parkinson's Disease Expert Has Visited White House Repeatedly: NYT Report
A Parkinson's disease expert from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House repeatedly over the course of eight months leading up to March this year, according to The New York Times.
Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist who has been with the White House medical team for more than 12 years, visited at least eight times, including one meeting with Biden's physician, the paper reported.
It wasn't clear whether the visits had anything to do with the president's health specifically, and the White House maintains that Biden shows no signs of the disease. His most recent test was reportedly in February.
Read more here.
Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist who has been with the White House medical team for more than 12 years, visited at least eight times, including one meeting with Biden's physician, the paper reported.
It wasn't clear whether the visits had anything to do with the president's health specifically, and the White House maintains that Biden shows no signs of the disease. His most recent test was reportedly in February.
Read more here.
Biden To Speak At LBJ Presidential Library To Honor Civil Rights Act
Biden will give a keynote address at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, on July 15th to mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, the library announced Monday morning.
The president will speak as part of a public program that will be "livestreamed to the nation," reads a press release about the event.
The timing of the event comes at a high-stakes moment for Biden's reelection campaign. He flopped in his debate with GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump late last month, and some Democratic lawmakers and party operatives have been openly panicking about him having the mental acuity to defeat Trump in the November election. Some Democratic lawmakers have called on him to step aside, but most have stayed mum, watching to see if and how Biden can clean things up this week.
The president told Democratic lawmakers early Monday that he's "not going anywhere," and his campaign has been scrambling to sign him up for public events so people can see for themselves that Biden is up to the task of winning the election.
Biden is reportedly planning to court Black voters and organized labor to carry him forward through this mess and onto victory in November. His speaking event at the LBJ Presidential Library -- which, again, will be livestreamed -- certainly aligns with this plan.
"We are honored to have President Biden at the LBJ Library to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act,” Mark K. Updegrove, president & CEO of the LBJ Foundation, said in a statement. “It is fitting that he returns to the Library to mark this milestone as our 46th President whose administration is committed to pursuing a 'comprehensive approach to advancing racial equity for all.'"
The president will speak as part of a public program that will be "livestreamed to the nation," reads a press release about the event.
The timing of the event comes at a high-stakes moment for Biden's reelection campaign. He flopped in his debate with GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump late last month, and some Democratic lawmakers and party operatives have been openly panicking about him having the mental acuity to defeat Trump in the November election. Some Democratic lawmakers have called on him to step aside, but most have stayed mum, watching to see if and how Biden can clean things up this week.
The president told Democratic lawmakers early Monday that he's "not going anywhere," and his campaign has been scrambling to sign him up for public events so people can see for themselves that Biden is up to the task of winning the election.
Biden is reportedly planning to court Black voters and organized labor to carry him forward through this mess and onto victory in November. His speaking event at the LBJ Presidential Library -- which, again, will be livestreamed -- certainly aligns with this plan.
"We are honored to have President Biden at the LBJ Library to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act,” Mark K. Updegrove, president & CEO of the LBJ Foundation, said in a statement. “It is fitting that he returns to the Library to mark this milestone as our 46th President whose administration is committed to pursuing a 'comprehensive approach to advancing racial equity for all.'"