White House denies rumors Biden is considering stepping down

Steph Whiteside and Kellie Meyer

2 hours ago

(NewsNation) — The White House is refuting claims that President Joe Biden is considering dropping out of the presidential race.

A New York Times report cites an ally of the president as saying that Biden is considering dropping out of the race if upcoming interviews and appearances are not enough to allay voters’ fears following the presidential debate.

Democrats sounded alarm bells after Biden’s debate, where he appeared confused at times, rekindling concerns that he was too old to serve another term. Biden has tried to compose himself in public appearances, but some Democrats have begun publicly calling for him to step aside and make way for another candidate.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates said on X that the reports were false, tweeting, “This claim is absolutely false and if we had more than 7 minutes we could have communicated this before it was made public.”

The White House also held an all-staff meeting Wednesday morning to boost morale, although the president did not attend.

On Wednesday, Biden is scheduled to meet privately with Vice President Kamala Harris and is also scheduled to hold last-minute meetings with Democratic governors. That meeting is expected to include several people who have been named as potential replacements, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Other prominent Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, have made comments suggesting they are open to putting another candidate on the ticket.

Biden’s campaign has repeatedly responded to those disappointed with his debate performance, continuing to insist that Biden is fit to run and serve a second term. Polls show that voters may be less convinced, with the president trailing former President Donald Trump in recent polls.

If Biden decides to step down or Democrats launch a campaign to replace him at the party’s convention next August, it could be a complicated process.

Biden has not faced any serious challengers in the primaries, meaning a majority of state delegates have already pledged their support. While delegates are not required to adhere to the results of their state’s primaries, they are expected to “in good conscience” represent the wishes of voters.

If Biden were to voluntarily withdraw, it is unclear what would happen to the delegates already pledged to him. If he were to suggest a preference for a replacement, that would likely carry significant weight with the party.

The president is expected to make several appearances and interviews in the coming days, which could prove crucial in determining whether he will still be at the top of the ticket in November.