President Biden told supporters at a rally in Michigan on Friday that he has no plans to drop out of the race because voters chose him as the Democratic presidential nominee, and he criticized the media, pundits and other Democrats.
“I’m the nominee of this party because 14 million Democrats like you voted for me in the primary,” Biden said. “You made me the nominee, and no one else. Not the press, not the pundits, not insiders, not donors. You, the voters. You made the decision, and no one else. And I’m not going anywhere.”
The lively crowd, which Biden’s campaign said consisted of 2,000 people, chanted “don’t give up” and “we’re standing by you” as Biden opened his remarks. Biden stressed at the rally that he would continue to campaign, and continued to address the press amid ongoing reports that Democrats in Congress are calling for him to drop out of the 2024 race.
“There are so many … stories, they say my campaign is falling apart. I’m the Democratic nominee, I’m the only Democrat, Republican, that has ever beat Donald Trump. And I’m going to beat Trump again,” Biden said.
Biden said the media was “attacking me” as the crowd booed him, to which Biden responded, “No, no, I’m OK.” He said he sometimes gets his name wrong but that “Donald Trump is immune.”
“They don’t seem to remember that Trump called Nikki Haley Nancy Pelosi,” Biden said. “Donald, there’s no more immunity. Today we’re going to shine the spotlight on Donald Trump. We’re going to do something that the press hasn’t done before, but I think they’re going to do it soon.”
Biden made several gaffes on Thursday, including confusing Vice President Harris with former President Trump, after incorrectly referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” – but quickly corrected himself.
Biden also criticized Trump for his sexual assault conviction, highlighting that the judge in the former president’s New York case who convicted him of sexual assault and defamation said Trump “raped her.” He also called Trump a “business conman” and highlighted the fact that he was fined for giving false information to banks.
Trump later denounced the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, calling it the “biggest attack” on the U.S. system of government. Many of his former staff and advisers are involved in the effort, even as he has sought to distance himself from his conservative vision for the incoming administration.
“I’m running and we’re going to win. I’m not going to change that,” Biden said at the rally.
He pointed to new findings from a Marist national poll conducted by NPR and PBS News showing him beating Trump 50-48.
“I know he’s a loser,” the president said.
The crowd began chanting “Lock him up” and Biden laughed briefly before starting chanting again.
Speaking at a major press conference at the end of the NATO summit in Washington DC, Biden said he would run again to complete that mission.
The president said that during his second term he would sign Roe v. Wade into law and the Voting Rights Act, and then said, “Listen up, ladies and gentlemen of the press,” that he would “make the wealthy pay their fair share” to expand and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.
Biden visited Michigan, a key battleground state he won in 2020, to defend his decision to remain in the 2024 race.
He began his speech at the rally holding a sign that read “Motown is Joe Town,” and cited the support he received from the United Auto Workers union, whose father sold cars.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat) did not attend the rally. The curtain has risen She is due to begin a book tour this week, but has been traveling in recent days to tout her support for the president and is also serving as national co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign.
“The president @JoeBiden “In Detroit! The Motor City is all in on Biden-Harris,” says Governor Whitmer Posts At X early on a Friday.
Before the rally, Biden campaigned with Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) at a restaurant in Northville, Michigan, where he told supporters, “I promise you, I’m going to be OK.”
Dingell traveled with the president from Washington to Michigan, briefing reporters on the flight along the way. Michigan Democratic Reps. Haley Stevens and Shuri Thanedar also flew with Biden on Air Force One, as did AFL-CIO President Liz Schuler.
When Biden arrived at Detroit airport, he was greeted by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate, former Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), and actress Octavia Spencer.
