President Joe Biden’s press conference on NATO averted disaster despite some gaffes, leaving Democrats in limbo and potentially thwarting any efforts within the party to remove him as a candidate in the near future.
One Democratic aide told Fox News White House correspondent Jackie Heinrich that Biden’s performance on Thursday was “the worst possible outcome” amid growing concerns that he would dash the hopes of lower-ranking Democrats.
Democratic sources commenting on Biden’s performance at the press conference: pic.twitter.com/lwCTYTXy9g
— Jackie Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) July 12, 2024
The source then quipped that this was a bad outcome, “unless you’re a hunter and you need a pardon.”
Heinrich responded: “Is it because your resignation is taking too long?”
“Yep,” the source replied.
Jen Psaki, Biden’s former press secretary, said on MSNBC that the press conference was ” [Biden’s campaign] It buys us more time and it’s a win for the campaign.”
Jen Psaki says Joe Biden’s NATO summit press conference bought him time, but purgatory continues for Democrats. Basil Smick counters that if Democrats are stuck in purgatory for another week, “it’s over.”
Psaki: “The problem with this argument is…” pic.twitter.com/2TQa6urYas— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) July 12, 2024
“This does not mean that we have won the electoral process because the struggle and the middle process is the real challenge and the uncertainty is the challenge for the lower ranking candidates,” she added.
Indeed, particularly vulnerable Democrats like Sens. Jon Tester (D-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who are running for reelection in Republican-leaning states, are facing intense scrutiny for how they position themselves in support of Biden after the debate.
clock: Jon Tester When Joe Biden is asked if he is mentally fit to be president, his staff panics. pic.twitter.com/iNcY3WUaIY
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) July 11, 2024
While Biden avoided a disastrous debate performance, he did make several gaffes throughout his remarks and press conferences.
Earlier in his remarks, and hours after correcting himself by introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin,” Biden mistakenly referred to former President Donald Trump as his vice president, provoking a visceral reaction from Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
WATCH: ‘President Putin’?!’ Watch Biden botch his attempt to introduce Ukraine’s Zelensky
White House
The moment Biden called Trump his vice president
Blinken has his eyes closed and Sullivan looks like he’s about to cry.
pure gold pic.twitter.com/Axrnma8IBn
— Johnny Maga (@_johnnymaga) July 12, 2024
“If I didn’t think President Trump was fit to be president, I wouldn’t have chosen him as vice president,” Biden said. SaidBlinken had to quickly close his eyes or throw them to the floor, while two seats away, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, put his hand over his mouth and massaged his chin after speaking.
The speech came hours after it was reported by CBS News. report Four Democratic “sources familiar with the matter” said dozens of Senate and House Democrats are expected to “issue a statement within the next 48 hours calling on President Biden to drop out of the race.”
