President Joe Biden says he has “every intention” of winning the November election at an impassioned campaign rally in North Carolina, ignoring calls for his resignation.
US President Joe Biden has sought to project an image of confidence at a rally in North Carolina after his performance in a debate with Donald Trump exacerbated concerns about his age and mental acuity.
In his comments Friday, Biden appeared to dismiss suggestions that he should resign to make room for a younger candidate to take on Trump in November's high-stakes election.
“I intend to win this election,” he said.
“When you get knocked down, you get back up,” Biden added, referring to his performance in the previous day’s debate.
The cheering crowd loudly chanted “four more years, four more years” and “USA, USA, USA.”
The speech comes after what many political observers called a disastrous performance by Biden during Thursday's debate against Trump, who pushed false claims and inflammatory rhetoric but was overshadowed by responses from Biden that at times seemed confusing and incoherent.
Friends, I may not walk as easily or speak as softly as I once did.
You may not debate as well as you used to.
But what I do know is to tell the truth.photo.twitter.com/ep5D0EhT5P
–Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 28, 2024
Former President Trump, meanwhile, criticized Biden's record and leaned into the foreboding rhetoric that has come to define his style of politics in remarks at a political rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Friday.
“We have to get him back from that game. [the Democrats]”It's an evil party,” Trump said at a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Friday. “Even though corrupt Joe Biden spent the entire week at Camp David [a presidential retreat] rest, work, study. He studied a lot, he studied so much that he didn't know what the hell he was doing.”
Many voters before the debate expressed concern about Biden's age, and the shaky performance sparked a wave of calls for him to resign and make room for a replacement candidate.
It's still unclear how potential voters will respond to Biden's debate performance, but media reports painted a picture of panic among Democratic Party officials. Concerns about Biden's age have been seen as a political vulnerability for years.
“I'm afraid they're going to replace him.” [Biden] and put forward someone more competitive,” Trump supporter Mike Boatman said before the rally in Virginia on Friday.
Seeking to regain his composure and reassure his supporters, Biden went on the offensive against Trump in fiery comments at his own rally on Friday.
“I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious,” Biden said. “I wouldn't run again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job. There is too much at stake.”
“Overreacting is dangerous”
The 81-year-old president also criticised Trump – his conservative rival who sought to overturn the 2020 election results based on the false claim they had been “rigged” against him through massive fraud – for his record of attacks on democracy.
“The choice in this election is simple: Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it.”
For now, Democratic Party officials appear committed to supporting Biden, despite growing doubts about his strength as a candidate.
“People were worried. And I told everyone that worrying is healthy, overreacting is dangerous,” said Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. “And I don't think I would advise anyone to make hasty decisions right now.”
