American President Joe Biden firmly declared on Thursday that he will seek re-election and is confident of victory, despite a series of verbal errors during a major summit that have intensified scrutiny over his suitability for office.
The 81-year-old president aimed to demonstrate his leadership as he presided over the NATO summit in Washington, just two weeks after a poor debate performance raised concerns among Democrats about his chances against Donald Trump.
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During the summit, Joe Biden accidentally introduced Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin before quickly correcting himself. Later, in an evening news conference, he mistakenly referred to “Vice President” Trump. Despite these errors, Biden remained resolute about his candidacy.
“I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president. I beat him once, and I will beat him again,” Biden stated, referring to Trump. He emphasized that his motivation is not about legacy but about finishing the work he began.
Biden, the oldest person ever elected president, faces growing calls from Democrats to step aside for the 2024 election, fearing Trump could defeat him. Nonetheless, Biden expressed strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris, whom some Democrats consider a stronger candidate for the top of the ticket.
‘Going to bed at midnight’
Biden denied rumors that he needed to go to bed early, stating, “Instead of my every day starting at 7:00 am and going to bed at midnight, it would be smarter for me to pace myself a little more.”
Despite Biden’s verbal slip concerning Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader laughed it off. Summit leaders have largely defended Joe Biden, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz noting that “slips of the tongue happen.”
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French President Emmanuel Macron described Biden as “in charge,” and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked that Biden “was on good form.”
However, notable American supporters have expressed doubts. Actor George Clooney urged Joe Biden to withdraw from the race, and prominent Democrat Nancy Pelosi has refrained from fully endorsing him. Several Democratic members of Congress and one senator have openly suggested Biden should not run.
What polls say
A recent poll revealed that more than half of Democrats believe Joe Biden should not seek a second term, with two-thirds of Americans feeling he should step down. However, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are currently tied at 46 percent in a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey.
Biden’s campaign is reportedly evaluating Harris’s potential in a matchup against Donald Trump. Some of Biden’s aides are contemplating how to persuade him to step aside, though the White House has denied these claims.
Joe Biden, who has held fewer news conferences than his predecessors, spoke at length during Thursday’s event, which aides termed a “big boy” press conference. He attributed his debate performance to a cold and jet lag, but Clooney described signs of decline even at a June fundraiser in Los Angeles.
In response to criticisms, Biden’s campaign launched a new ad portraying Donald Trump as a “lap dog” of Putin. Meanwhile, NATO allies have sought reassurances about Biden’s leadership and their concerns over a potential Trump return, which they fear could jeopardize the alliance.
