After the CNN presidential debate, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom fired back when asked by reporters whether he supported the idea of replacing President Biden.
“I will never turn my back on President Biden. I will never turn my back on President Biden. There is no Democrat in my party that will do that. We will stand with him, especially after tonight,” Newsom said.
“We’re not running the 90-yard sprint, we’re running it to the max, and we’re going to double down in the coming months. We’re going to win this election,” he continued.
Asked about Biden’s performance, Newsom said he was focused on “substance.”
Adam Carolla says he’s leaving ‘terrible’ California, slams ‘sociopath’ Newsom as ‘ignorant, sneaky eel’
Left: President Biden. Right: California Governor Gavin Newsom. (Getty Images)
“What about what’s inside? I care about what’s inside. I care about what’s inside,” Newsom said, without explaining what he meant.
Newsom told reporters he has no plans to turn his back on the president and remains confident he is fit to lead the country.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with him. I know Joe Biden and I know what he’s accomplished over the last three and a half years. I know what he’s capable of doing. And I have no qualms,” Newsom said.
Amid Biden scandal, Rogan says Democrats are ‘preparing Gavin Newsom’ for 2024 presidential election
Governor Gavin Newsom, pictured with President Biden, and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, have been married since 2008. (David McNew)
Ahead of the debate, rumors had been swirling that Newsom, a possible 2028 presidential candidate, had been tapped as a surrogate for Biden ahead of November’s presidential election.
In February, podcast host Joe Rogan speculated that Democrats were preparing to replace Biden with Newsom as their 2024 presidential nominee.
“Don’t you think running for president is a ploy?” Rogan asked, before asserting, “They’re going to get rid of him, they’re going to get rid of him, they’re going to force him to resign. That’s my view.”
Gavin Newsom ‘wants to run for president’ in 2024, says Democratic strategist
Governor Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden (Getty Images)
After the debate, Newsom dismissed concerns about Biden’s performance, saying “we’ve all had nights like that” and that the president has repeatedly ignored concerns about his age.
“He never gives up. He never gives up and he’s fighting for us, for democracy, for our future children, our grandchildren. So we’ve got to get this back on this point. And, yes, I hope he’s back and I hope he’s back on stage at the next debate,” he told MSNBC’s Alex Wagner in a post-debate interview.
When asked if he was ready to take on Donald Trump, Newsom suggested he could be Biden’s successor, but again denied the rumors and stated his full support for the president.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“I would never do that. I would never turn my back. That’s my personal view. I don’t think there’s a single Democrat who would do that,” Newsom said.
Fox News Digital’s Alexander Hall contributed to this report.
