Congressional lawmakers departed Washington, D.C. around noon on Thursday, hours before President Biden's crucial news conference, where the 81-year-old leader is tasked with fighting concerns that he is unfit for another four years in office.
Some Democrats were relatively moderate in their responses to Fox News Digital, while others insisted the president would do a good job.
Republicans, who have long argued that Biden is mentally unfit for office, largely said Biden would show more of the same signs of aging he displayed in last month's CNN presidential debate against former President Trump.
“Like all of his public appearances, it's going to be very interesting to see him do what they've called a big boss press conference. Look, it's been the biggest political cover-up, probably in the history of the country,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox News Digital when asked about the press conference. “I think the more public appearances and speeches he makes, the more that's going to be exposed. And I think there's a lot to answer for.”
DEMOCRATS TEST BATTLEFIELD AND KAINE TO SKIP BIDEN CAMPAIGN MEETING AS 2024 FEARS GROW
President Joe Biden speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at Sherman Middle School on July 5, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson)
“I think this is the ultimate test for him. The press is everywhere and if he fails, he's going to be thrown out,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, D-Ga., told Fox News Digital. “This is going to happen after a long day with NATO. It's unscripted and he's going to face a very vitriolic press.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said, “We're in a bad spot because we have a mentally ill man who is technically a leader of the free world.”
“It's 4 p.m., so it should be fine,” joked Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden. “Here's what people need to understand: If the president of the United States is only able to operate from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the world is a much more dangerous place and they should be terrified by this.”
DAVE PORTNOY MAKES FUNDRAISER OF GEORGE CLOONEY FOR WAITING 3 WEEKS AFTER FUNDRAISER TO ACKNOWLEDGE BIDEN IS A 'VEGETABLE'
Asked how he thought Biden would handle himself in front of reporters, Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, said, “I'm guessing pretty much the same as the debate. It's been a while since we've had a press conference with him, so it would be nice to see him answer some questions that aren't given to reporters ahead of time.”
Pictured is President Mike Johnson. (Fake Images)
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said she believes “he's going to do just about everything he can, which is not a good thing.”
The news conference comes as a growing number of Democratic lawmakers have spoken out against Biden's candidacy for fear he will lose to Trump in November.
“I think he'll do well,” said Rep. Juan Vargas, a Democrat from California, when asked about Thursday's news conference.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Fox he wishes Biden well at the event, while Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said, “I think he did a good job at NATO; let's see how that goes.”
“I think he will stand with our NATO allies, which is what every president should do,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I.
Senator Blumenthal said he wishes Biden well at Thursday's press conference. (Fox News Digital)
Biden, for his part, has insisted that he remains the best person to defeat the former president.
But his performance in last month’s debate continues to cast doubt. He spoke in a hoarse voice, which he attributed to a cold, and stumbled in his answers several times during the prime-time event. Viewers also saw him looking tired and noticeably less sharp than when he last faced Trump in 2020.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., during the second day of the 2022 Warsaw Security Forum. (Attila Husejnow)
Still, some Democrats on Capitol Hill remain confident that Biden will succeed.
“President Biden is going to make a strong case that America is safer when we engage with our allies,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. “I think that will be in direct contrast to next week's Republican National Convention, when Donald Trump is going to announce that we should be breaking away from our allies, withdrawing from the world, which would make us much less safe.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
As of Thursday, 10 House Democrats and one senator have called on Biden to step aside.
