President Joe Biden made it clear that he intends to continue his campaign for reelection, despite facing skepticism from within his own Democratic Party following a debate that cast doubts on his preparedness.
In a statement shared by a senior aide on the X social media platform, Biden asserted his position, saying, "I am running. I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out."
The president's resoluteness comes at a time when unease is growing among Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Biden has been reportedly slow in engaging with both high-ranking party members and the broader Democratic caucus, leading to heightened concern about the direction of his campaign and his recent debate showing.
In an unanticipated move, Biden, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, joined a Democratic National Committee call to deliver a motivational speech. Biden emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and echoed his post-debate resolve to "get back up after being knocked down," according to the Associated Press.
This move was among several attempts by Biden and his senior aides to mitigate the growing worry among Democratic allies on Capitol Hill and within the party's upper echelons. The dissatisfaction with Biden's debate performance and the subsequent explanations offered by both the President and White House staff have led to discontent within the party.
Some Democrats have expressed that Biden's response to the debate criticism was not only delayed but also placed the party in a challenging predicament by his decision to remain in the presidential race.
The New York Times reported earlier today that Biden told an ally that he is weighing whether to stay in the election race.