Biden insists he's staying in the race but makes noticeable gaffes in press conference
WATCH IN FULL: Biden responds to calls to step down at NATO Summit
Biden is reiterating his determination to run for reelection, despite the growing number of Democratic lawmakers and others who are calling for him to step aside. "I think it’s important that I allay fears," he said, referring to campaign appearances on Friday in Detroit and next week in Texas and Nevada. "I gotta finish this job," he said. "I gotta finish this job, because there’s so much at stake."
President Joe Biden continued his insistence that he would remain in the presidential race during a solo press conference Thursday evening to conclude the NATO summit in Washington, D.C.
The presser took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, a short distance from the White House, where many events of the NATO summit are happening.
Throughout the evening, the president made several noticeable gaffes, including referring to his running mate as "Vice President Trump" and addressing a previous instance when he called Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy "President Putin."
RELATED: Majority of Democrats say Biden should exit race in new poll
Despite his missteps, the president pushed back at every suggestion that he was slowing down or showing noticeable signs of decline, or that he was not in command of the job. But he was facing a growing chorus of calls from lawmakers, celebrities and other prominent Democrats to step aside from the 2024 race.
"So if I slow down and I can't get the job done, that’s a sign that I shouldn’t be doing it. But there’s no indication of that yet — none," he said.
Biden says he's being tested (mentally) every day
When asked if he's willing to take a test to determine his mental capacity, the president said not only has he taken three neurological tests and has been given the all clear by his doctor, but that he's tested every day doing his job as commander in chief.
If told by his doctors that he should no longer do his job, the president said he would listen.
"Not in it for my legacy": Biden defends presidency
President Joe Biden spoke at the NATO Summit on Thursday, following a lackluster debate performance. Biden used the highly-anticipated news conference to defend his foreign and domestic policies, and pushed back on questions about his ability to serve for another four years. Tom LoBianco, reporter for 24Sight, joins LiveNOW from FOX.
Trump reacts to Biden's press conference
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee posted on his social media network a video clip of when Biden said "Vice President Trump."
Trump added sarcastically at the end: "Great job, Joe!"
President responds to reporters asking about his political future
Biden was asked how it might hurt his place in the history books if he were to keep running and lose to Trump in November — but insisted he’s not concerned. Instead, he said, his focus is continuing four more years of policies to grow the economy and help the middle class.
"I’m not in this for my legacy," Biden said. "I’m in this to complete the job I started."Biden was asked how it might hurt his place in the history books if he were to keep running and lose to Trump in November — but insisted he’s not concerned. Instead, he said, his focus is continuing four more years of policies to grow the economy and help the middle class.
"I’m not in this for my legacy," Biden said. "I’m in this to complete the job I started."
Biden said the best way to reassure anyone who is concerned about him having another "bad night" is "the way I assure myself and that is, ‘Am I getting the job done.’"
The president said "there’s no indication yet" that he’s slowing down on that front.
Biden had explained his poor debate performance against Trump last month by saying he had a "bad night."
Biden given list of reporters to call on following press conference speech
After giving a speech touting his administration's progress with lowering inflation and the country's leadership in international affairs, Biden told the press that he had a list of reporters he would call on instead of calling on them at random for questions.
When asked his opinion on whether Vice President Kamala Harris would be a fit replacement should Biden decide to step down, the president accidentally referred to his running mate as "Vice President Trump."
Biden was also asked how it might hurt his place in the history books if he were to keep running and lose to Trump in November — but insisted he’s not concerned. Instead, he said, his focus is continuing four more years of policies to grow the economy and help the middle class.
"I’m not in this for my legacy," Biden said. "I’m in this to complete the job I started."
FILE - US President Joe Biden at a news conference during the NATO Summit in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Democratic governors gather to watch Biden's press conference
The nine Democratic governors attending the National Governors Association in Salt Lake City, Utah, have gathered to watch Biden's news conference at the NATO summit.
They will be watching it via livestream in a private room along with other staff and Democratic officials.
Biden accidentally refers to Ukraine's Zelenskyy as ‘President Putin’
Before his highly anticipated news conference on Thursday, Biden was winding down his remarks at an event on the sidelines of the NATO summit with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other leaders when he made an untimely verbal flub: He referred to the Ukrainian leader as "President Putin."
"And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination, ladies and gentlemen, President Putin," Biden said.
The room, and Zelenskyy, gasped at Biden’s gaffe, which the U.S. president quickly sought to clean up.
"President Putin? You’re going to beat President Putin," Biden said to Zelenskyy at the event to mark the unveiling of an agreement called the Ukraine Compact. "I’m so focused on beating Putin; we got to worry about it," Biden explained.
Zelenskyy joked: "I’m better" than Putin.
Biden agreed. "You’re a hell of a lot better."
Biden poll numbers
Biden’s news conference comes amid a new poll published Thursday saying that a majority of Democrats believe he should drop out of the election race.
The commander-in-chief is dealing with criticism regarding his first debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27, something he addressed during an interview with ABC News on July 5.
RELATED: List of top Democrats who have called on Biden to exit race
Biden's aides responded to the debate topic with public statements defending his mental state and fitness for the job, the AP noted.
Democrats call on Biden to back out
Biden is facing pressure from some Democrats and his top donors to drop out of the race, with the latest being Democratic senator Peter Welch of Vermont.
RELATED: List of top Democrats who have called on Biden to exit race
Actor George Clooney, one of Biden's top donors, published a New York Times op-ed on Wednesday stating that he had no confidence in Biden’s ability to serve a second term.
Biden’s shaky debate performance against Trump on June 27 has apparently divided the Democratic Party on its view of the future. But despite his struggles in the first debate, the president says he is ready to fight for a second term in office.
Can Biden be replaced?
It would be nearly impossible for Democrats to replace Biden against his will based on several factors.
Every state has already held its presidential primary. Democratic rules mandate that the delegates Biden won remain bound to support him at the party's upcoming national convention unless he tells them he’s leaving the race, according to The Associated Press.
The conventions and their rules are controlled by the political parties. The Democratic National Committee could meet before the convention opens on Aug. 19 and change how things will work, but that isn't likely as long as Biden wants to continue seeking reelection.
If Biden chose to step aside, the process of replacing him would be unprecedented.
Growing number of Democrats call Biden to drop out
President Biden’s imperiled reelection campaign hit new trouble Wednesday as House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said merely "it’s up to the president to decide" if he should stay in the race, celebrity donor George Clooney said he should not run and Democratic senators and lawmakers expressed fresh fear about his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump. LiveNOW from FOX host Josh Breslow spoke to Anthony Adragna with Politico on the latest.
What Biden is saying
Biden has conceded that last month's debate didn’t go well for him, but has maintained he is staying in the race and is up for the fight to win a second term as president.
He is publicly urging his supporters to stay unified, and said Sunday at a public appearance in Pennsylvania that he feels the most optimistic he’s ever felt about America’s future.
On Monday, he sent a letter to Hill Democrats insisting he’s "declining" to step aside and said it’s time for the party drama "to end."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.