- Joe Biden press conference: ‘Won’t drop out of the race’ – in gaffe-marred address
- Joe Biden has said he won’t drop out of the race in a defiant address to a room full of reporters
- It was his first unscripted appearance since a poor debate performance against Donald Trump
- Since the debate, a growing number of Democrats have been calling for him to drop out of the presidential race
- During the address, he made two prominent gaffes – calling VP Harris ‘Trump’ and introducing the Ukrainian president as ‘President Putin’
Joe Biden press conference: ‘Won’t drop out of the race’ – in gaffe-marred address
President Joe Biden faced a critical moment at his Thursday night press conference, held to mark the end of a NATO summit. This was his first unscripted appearance since a poor debate performance against Donald Trump, which led to some Democratic leaders urging him to step down from the presidential race. Despite ongoing concerns about his age and ability to serve another term, Biden dismissed these doubts, saying he is committed to finishing the work he started in 2021.
During the hour-long session, Biden showed both resilience and vulnerability. He made two notable gaffes: calling Vice-President Kamala Harris “Vice-President Trump” and mistakenly introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin.” These errors did not go unnoticed, raising more questions about his ability to handle another term. Nonetheless, Biden remained upbeat, laughing and smiling as he answered questions, and emphasised his confidence in defeating Trump in the upcoming election.
Addressing a room full of reporters he said that his focus was on achieving his goals for the country, not just preserving his legacy. He brushed off calls for cognitive tests and reiterated his belief that the race against Trump was still competitive, citing recent polls showing a close contest. Biden assured the Democratic delegates of his intention to stay in the race, despite the growing chorus of party members suggesting otherwise.
Joe Biden just called Zelensky “President Putin” and called Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump”.
— Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) July 12, 2024
Let’s be real: Biden is heading for a big loss.
To make sure Trump loses too, I’m asking all progressive and independent voters to get behind our campaign now.
