JOE Biden’s first solo press conference of the year went exactly the way one would expect, with the president defiant and his remarks both odd and inaccurate.
Exhibit A happened in response to the key question of the conference regarding whether Vice President Kamala Harris was ready to be president if called upon.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I think she’s not qualified to be president,” the 81-year-old replied.
Gasps ensued. And that kind of answer did nothing to reassure the American people that the 81-year-old Biden deserves to be in office through his 86th birthday if somehow re-elected.
The “Vice President Trump” gaffe came after Biden introduced Ukraine President Zelenskyy as “President Putin” earlier that day at the Nato Summit in Washington, DC.
These are the kind of viral clips that resonate far more than any remarks on policy as it relates to economic, immigration, and foreign policy.
The president’s decline is nothing new. A Wall Street Journal poll showed that 74% of Americans said they did not believe Biden should run again because of his age and mental acuity, or lack thereof. And this was a survey taken months before the debate.
Other polls taken post-debate have similar results, including a CBS survey that showed just 27% of the public believes Biden has the cognitive ability to be president right now. If that’s the case, why should Biden get another four years?
WEAK QUESTIONS
During the press conference, Biden was once again given a list of handpicked reporters to call on.
The questions were relatively weak and didn’t include obvious ones including:
Q: You’ve been seen by a doctor who treats Parkinson’s disease on several occasions. Do you have a neurological disease?
Q: In the name of transparency, when will you release all of your medical records?
Q: Why do you think you can do this job through the year 2028 when you just admitted that you can’t handle doing public events past 8 pm?
Q: The cost of living has risen 20% since you took office. Gas prices are up nearly 50%. Americans are struggling, yet you say your performance on handling the economy is strong. Why the disconnect?
Q: More than 10 million people have entered the country illegally since you took office, including hundreds on the FBI terror watch list. How did you allow this to happen under your watch?
How could Biden be removed from race?
Calls for Joe Biden to end his reelection campaign have mounted since his poor presidential debate night performance on June 27
After the debate, the 81-year-old president’s cognitive health concerns were once again a pressing topic among news outlets and his allies in the Democratic Party.
What has Joe Biden said about his future in the race?
- Biden has remained defiant and shot down calls for him to step aside in the upcoming presidential election.
- The Biden administration was forced to deny reports that the president confided to a close ally that he is considering withdrawing from the race.
- In a July 5 interview with ABC News, Biden said that “no one is more qualified” to win the race than him, adding only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to resign.
- On July 8, Biden sent a scathing letter to Congressional DNC members who have called on him to step down.
- “I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,” the president wrote.
- Biden proceeded to slam “elites” in a live interview with MSNBC, daring any challenger to run against him.
How could Joe Biden be removed from the ballot?
- Since the June 27 debate night, a growing number of Congressional Democrats have called on Biden to end his reelection campaign.
- So far, five out of the 213 DNC members in Congress have publicly called for Biden to quit the race.
- As Biden continues to emphasize his status in the upcoming election, many are wondering whether the 25th Amendment should be used to oust him.
What is the 25th Amendment?
- The 25th Amendment of the Constitution states the vice president shall replace a president if they die in office or resign or if members of the president’s cabinet declare the president is unable to fulfill the duties of their office.
- Labor Secretary Julie Su, who would need to invoke the 25th Amendment, called the idea “absurd.”
All fair, relevant questions. Yet none of them were asked, making this press conference not a difficult one for even this president to handle.
STEP ASIDE
On Friday and throughout the weekend and for the foreseeable future, the calls will only continue to grow for Biden to step aside, especially from within his own party and his former allies in the media.
But from what we witnessed from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, down the block from the White House, on Thursday afternoon, this president isn’t going anywhere without a fight.
“If I slow down and can’t get the job done, that’s a sign I shouldn’t be doing it,” he said.
“But there’s no indication of that yet.”
From some in the media to celebrities like George Clooney, the sentiment will be for Biden to step down.
He says he isn’t going anywhere, despite polling continuing to show a worsening situation for Biden.
Not only does Donald Trump lead in every swing state, but the map has expanded to previously untouchable blue states including Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, and New Mexico.
One prominent senator, Michael Bennet of Colorado, even warned this week that Biden could be facing a landslide loss.
It’s a full-blown mess for the Democratic Party.
If Biden somehow survives this and is the Democratic nominee, Trump’s return to the White House is that much more certain.
