President Joe Biden secured crucial backing from high-ranking Democrats and delivered a robust speech at the NATO summit on Tuesday, yet concerns about his age and health persist, casting shadows over his reelection campaign.
Hakeem Jeffries, the leading Democrat in the House of Representatives, convened discussions with party members to assess whether Biden should be replaced as their 2024 nominee, following his lackluster debate with Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Biden sought to demonstrate his continued relevance on the global stage, addressing NATO leaders in Washington, DC to commemorate the alliance's 75th anniversary in a speech closely scrutinized by many.
Biden, reading from a teleprompter, spoke with conviction about the "historic moment," avoiding the verbal gaffes that had marred his previous debate performance on June 27. After a period of uncertainty, Biden appeared to be shifting focus, and Tuesday's party meetings were crucial in this regard.
An early meeting with lawmakers worried about their prospects in November was described as "intense" by one participant, with another noting a "pretty much unanimous" sentiment that Biden should step down. However, during the full caucus meeting later that day, signs emerged that Biden had consolidated support, as several lawmakers publicly declared their loyalty to him.
Jerry Nadler, the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, expressed support for Biden despite reportedly suggesting over the weekend that he should withdraw. "He said he's staying in, he's our candidate, and we're all going to support him -- hopefully we're all going to support him," Nadler told reporters.
Although the endorsements were not entirely enthusiastic, there seemed to be a reluctant acknowledgment that Biden would remain in the race, at least for the time being. The White House, through increasingly heated press briefings, has insisted that the issue is resolved and the party is united.
"We do want to turn the page," said Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden's spokesperson. "We want to get to the other side of this." Most top Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who reiterated his support for Biden on Tuesday, have rallied behind him, despite ongoing divisions within the party over his debate performance, which was watched by approximately 51 million Americans.
Resistance remained, with New Jersey Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill becoming the seventh Democratic lawmaker to openly urge Biden not to run for reelection. Republicans in Congress have largely watched the Democratic turmoil with amusement, though Trump did not mince words at his first rally in 11 days, held at his Doral golf resort in Miami.
"They want Crooked Joe out of the race. It's a shame the way they're treating him. But don't feel sorry for him. He's a very bad guy," Trump told his supporters, launching into 75 minutes of criticism mainly aimed at his electoral opponent.
Concerns about Biden's health have disrupted the party's plans just four months before the election. Biden has intensified his efforts to stay in the race, challenging any Democratic critics to confront him at the party convention in August. The oldest-ever US president has attributed his debate performance, marked by verbal stumbles and a gaping mouth, to a "bad night" caused by a cold and jetlag from extensive foreign travel.
Biden's personal doctor stated on Monday that the president was examined by a specialist in Parkinson's disease purely as part of routine neurological checks during his annual medical. However, Biden's efforts to relaunch his campaign have not swayed The New York Times, which, in a harsh editorial, urged Democrats to "tell him that he is embarrassing himself and endangering his legacy."
