Washington, D.C. (July 11, 2024) – United States President Joe Biden is set to hold a crucial press conference on Thursday, just days after a widely panned debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
The 81-year-old Biden will take the stage at a NATO summit, under intense scrutiny from both allies and members of his own Democratic party. Many have openly questioned whether Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, is still up to the demands of the office.
The White House has billed the event as a “big boy press conference,” promising multiple questions from the media. Biden’s handling of the unscripted moment could prove pivotal, as calls grow from within the party for him to abandon a 2024 re-election bid.
“Any missteps by Biden at the 5:30 pm event could turn the trickle of Democrats urging him to step aside into a flood,” noted one senior party official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The pressure has only mounted in recent days. Hollywood actor and Biden supporter George Clooney wrote a scathing op-ed stating the president was not the same man he had seen at a fundraiser just three weeks prior. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also stopped short of fully endorsing Biden’s re-election plans.
Biden has sought to chalk up his debate struggles to a cold and jet lag. But with limited press conferences and interviews during his tenure, concerns about the effects of age on the president’s capabilities have continued to swirl.
NATO allies, too, have grown worried about Biden’s leadership, fearful that a return of the isolationist Trump could jeopardize the transatlantic alliance.
The stakes for Thursday’s event could scarcely be higher. A strong, coherent performance from Biden may quell some of the doubts. But any signs of faltering could further embolden those in his party who believe it’s time for new leadership.
