Joe Biden has responded to reports of people trying to push him out with a “straightforward” message.
NBC News Senior Correspondent Gabe Gutierrez reported that during a campaign staff call on Wednesday, Biden vowed to continue running until the end, insisting no one could stop him.
During the call, Biden stated, “Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running. No one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving.
“I’m in this race to the end, and we’re going to win.”
President Biden on call with staff just now:
— Gabe Gutierrez (@gabegutierrez) July 3, 2024
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running.”
“No one is pushing me out.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
Apparently, Kamala Harris chimed in during the call, saying, “We will not back down. We will follow our President’s lead. We will fight, and we will win.”
“Joe Biden has devoted his life to fighting for the people of our country. In this moment I know all of us are ready to fight for him.”
On call with staff…
— Gabe Gutierrez (@gabegutierrez) July 3, 2024
VP Harris added: “We will not back down. We will follow our President’s lead. We will fight, and we will win…Joe Biden has devoted his life to fighting for the people of our country. In this moment I know all of us are ready to fight for him.”
The statement from Biden comes as major news outlets like the New York Times and CNN, among other people, have called for him to step out of the 2024 presidential race.
Politico reported:
President Joe Biden unexpectedly joined a Zoom call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staff on Wednesday, mounting a new push to preserve the viability of his embattled candidacy, according to two people on the call.
Amid reports that Biden is privately acknowledging to allies that his candidacy is hanging in the balance, the president stated that he’s in the race for the long haul, though he conceded that the days since last week’s debate with former President Donald Trump have been damaging, according to two people on the call who were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can — as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win,” Biden said on the call.
Biden’s forcefulness and resolve, especially compared to how he came across during last week’s debate, was as reassuring to several attendees, who discussed the call afterward via text message, as what he said.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whose profile has risen in recent days as Democrats focus on her with new seriousness as a possible replacement atop the ticket, was seated beside Biden on the video call.
“We will not back down,” Harris said. “We will follow our president’s lead. We will fight, and we will win.”
BREAKING: President Biden confirms there is no way he is dropping out and says he is “in this race to the end.”
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 3, 2024
Great job, Joe!
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running… no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in… pic.twitter.com/7OeWlxaCDJ
Of course, it would be weird if he didn’t do something to embarrass himself and the United States in the process. This is Joe Biden we’re talking about, after all.
Biden forgot the name of his OWN Chief of Staff. Afterward, there was a long pause and awkward silence on the line as Biden’s “brain” glitched again.
Biden had another “episode” on this campaign staff call. He was talking about the WH chief of staff and couldn’t remember his name. Took a long pause and there was awkward silence on the line. https://t.co/FfqBNJ6jXp
— Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) July 3, 2024
