Biden beats back questions on campaign calamity at NATO news conference

Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) is urging President Biden to step aside from the 2024 presidential race, making him the 17th congressional Democrat — and third on Thursday night — to call on him to withdraw.

“In 2020, Joe Biden ran for President with the purpose of putting country over party,” the frontline Democrat wrote in a statement posted on X. “Today, I am asking him to do that again.”

“It is more important than ever that our neighbors have a candidate for President who will communicate a positive vision for every person in this country. Someone who can demonstrate the strength and wisdom needed to lead us through the worst storms. A leader who will stand up to the present threats against democracy,” he said.

The Illinois Democrat went on to write: “today, I am hopeful President Biden will step aside in his campaign for President.”

— Mychael Schnell

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said she is “#ridinwithbidin” after the president concluded his press conference, lauding his handling of foreign policy and national security issues.

The statement came as two other House Democrasts joined calls for Biden to step aside, bringing the total number of lawmakers in the lower chamber urging him to withdraw to 16.

“That was our President, @JoeBiden, demonstrating how a world leader with his hand firmly on the tiller of our ship of state, manages the country, U.S. national security interests and the naysayers. #ridinwithbiden,” Wasserman Schultz said on X.

– Mychael Schnell

Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) became the second House Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw after his press conference, and the 16th congressional Democrat overall.

Peters in a statement said “the President’s record of accomplishments will not translate into similar success in his reelection campaign,” adding that his disastrous debate performance last month “was not a blip.”

“And while the Biden campaign claims the post-debate national polls remain relatively unchanged, polling in the swing states has worsened alarmingly,” he wrote.

“Today I ask President Biden to withdraw from the presidential campaign,” he continued. “The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course. My conscience requires me to speak up and put loyalty to the country and to democracy ahead of my great affection for, and loyalty to, the President and those around him.”

— Mychael Schnell

Biden hit back at Trump after the former president ridiculed Biden for mixing up Harris and Trump during his press conference.

“Crooked Joe begins his ‘Big Boy; Press Conference with, ‘I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president.’ Great job, Joe!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social.

“By the way: Yes, I know the difference,” Biden responded on the social platform X, including a screenshot of the Truth Social post. “One’s a prosecutor, and the other’s a felon.”

– Caroline Vakil

Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, called on President Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race immediately after he concluded his press conference, becoming the first Democratic lawmaker to urge the president to step aside after the high-profile appearance.

Himes called Biden “a remarkable leader of unparalleled public service, undeniable achievement, and unconditional patriotism” and lauded his accomplishments from this term, before encouraging him to leave the race to protect his legacy.

“It is because of those traits and, and in consideration of that legacy, that I hope President Biden will step away from the presidential campaign,” Himes wrote in a statement.

Himes is the 15th congressional Democrat to call on Biden to withdraw from the race.

— Mychael Schnell

Biden said no poll or person is telling him that he can’t win reelection currently, which he said would be the only way he would consider ending his presidential bid.

He said seeing polling information that showed Vice President Harris performing better against Trump would not cause him to step aside on its own. He said he believes he would have an easier time winning than another candidate who would have to start from “scratch.”

“I believe I’m the best qualified to govern, and I think I’m the best qualified to win,” he said.

Biden questioned how much the polls can be trusted, a common theme throughout his reelection campaign when surveys show him performing badly.

He argued that for some polls showing Trump ahead, others have showed him ahead. He added that he believes the polling is premature as the campaign will not truly heat up until after Labor Day, as it has in past elections.

– Jared Gans

Biden said delegates at the Democratic National Convention would be “free to do whatever they want” if they wanted to choose another candidate.

“If they say they want somebody else, that’s the democratic process,” Biden said.

However, the president added in a whisper, “that’s not going to happen.”

– Julia Manchester

Biden said Europe is going to be “curtailing their involved investment” in China, over Beijing’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The president’s remarks echo language from NATO’s Washington Declaration, signed by the 32 allied states, nearly all in Europe, that China’s enabling of Russia’s war against Ukraine will have a direct impact on their interests and reputation.

China views Europe as a key economic partner, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has increased outreach to European capitals as relations with the U.S. have soured.

– Laura Kelly

Biden said he is working to calm fears over his fitness for office by holding more public campaign events in the coming weeks.

“I’m determined on running, but it’s important that I allay fears by letting them see me out there,” the president said.

He went on to say he wants to travel to swing states and show voters the unscripted version of him.

– Julia Manchester

Biden said the “gravity of the situation” is the reason why he changed his mind on serving as a “transitional” figure as he did in 2020.

“What changed was the gravity of the situation I inherited in terms of the economy, our foreign policy and domestic division,” Biden said.

He touted his legislative accomplishments, arguing that historians consider him the most legislatively successful president since Lyndon Johnson. He added that he realized his accomplishments in the Senate uniquely positioned him to have the “wisdom” to “get things done.”

“We got more major legislation passed. No one thought would happen,” he said. “And I want to finish, to get that finished.”

– Jared Gans

Earlier in the press conference, Biden was seen on television pausing in the middle of answering a question midsentence as it appeared he was being interrupted.

The Hill’s Niall Stanage, who is in the room where the press conference is taking place, said the interruption was caused by some brief recorded excerpt played from elsewhere in the room.

Biden said his European allies are urging him to win against Trump in 2024.

“How can I say this without sounding too self-serving? I’ve not had any of my European allies come up to me and say, ‘Joe, don’t run,’” Biden said, when asked whether he thinks Europe will be left on its own if Trump wins the election.

“What I hear them say is: ‘You’ve gotta win,” Biden said. On the home front, the incumbent is facing calls from within his own party to leave the top of the ticket in the 2024 presidential race.

Biden touted his leadership as Ukraine continues to fend off Russia’s invasion, and argued “he’s the best qualified person to do the job, to make sure that Ukraine does not fall.”

– Julia Mueller

Biden acknowledged during his press conference that “I have to pace myself a little more” but disavowed the idea that he had dramatically changed his schedule in recent weeks.

“I have – I don’t know how many – don’t hold me to it – roughly 20 major events, some with thousands of people showing up,” Biden said

“I just gotta – just pace myself a little more,” the president added.

Biden also claimed that his staff “add things” at the last minute.

– Caroline Vakil

Biden pointed to his record in response to a question about ensuring he will not have another “bad night” as he has said he had during last month’s debate with Trump.

He asked rhetorically if any other president had been as legislatively successful in three and half years as he had. He said if a “slowdown” in his accomplishments is seen, that would be an indication of his ability to serve, but that is not happening.

– Jared Gans

Biden appeared to mix up Europe and Asia while talking about computer chip factories, marking another gaffe during the press conference.

“I was told not to go over to Europe, I mean to Asia, including Europe and Asia,” Biden told reporters. “I remember going to South Korea convincing $20 billion in United States to build computer chip manufacturers.”

– Julia Manchester

Biden told reporters he is not concerned with his legacy with his decision to remain in the 2024 presidential race despite concerns about his ability to defeat former President Trump in November.

A reporter asked him how he would feel about the impact on his legacy if Trump, whom he has said is unfit for office, returns to the White House.

“I’m not in this for my legacy,” Biden said. “I’m in this to complete the job I started.”

Biden then pivoted to emphasize his record on the economy, citing some economists’ analyses praising his initiatives. He called himself the “most pro-union labor president in history” and was determined to stop the “trickle-down economics” of his predecessor.

– Jared Gans

Biden defended his record and touted his 2020 win over Trump against criticisms and calls to step down from the top of the 2024 ticket.

“I think I’m the most qualified person to run for president. I’ve beat him once and I will beat him again,” Biden said, when asked how he was incorporating criticisms into his decision to stay in the race.

He touted his record in the Senate and his administration’s work on job creation and the economy.

Reuters’ Jeff Mason also asked Biden what concerns he has about Vice President Kamala Harris’s ability to beat Trump if she were at the top of the ticket in his place – and Biden mistakenly referred to his second-in-command by the former president’s name.

“Look, I wouldn‘t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president if I didn’t think she was qualified to be President,” Biden said.

– Julia Mueller

Biden began his widely anticipated press conference speaking about Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing invasion in Ukraine.

“NATO stands stronger than it has ever been. During the week, this summit, several head of states made it a point in their statements to thank the United States and to thank me personally for all that NATO has achieved,” Biden said.

He lashed out at Donald Trump, saying at one point, “my predecessor has made it clear he has no commitment to NATO.”

– Caroline Vakil

Biden used a good chunk of his opening remarks to attack his 2024 opponent directly, a surprise move given the formal setting of the NATO summit.

Biden hit Trump over his praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he contrasted a strong inflation report that showed prices coming down with Trump’s proposal to impose a 10 percent tariff on all imports.

– Brett Samuels

President Biden has taken to the podium in Washington and is delivering remarks ahead of questions he is expected to take from member of the media.

He walked onto the stage of the convention center just before 7:30 p.m.

The Biden campaign looked to brush off an awkward moment at a NATO event in which he confused Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“President Biden: Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin. President Putin? He’s gonna beat President Putin,” the Biden campaign wrote on X, writing out the exchange. “President Zelenskyy: I’m better President Biden: You’re a hell of a lot better”

– Caroline Vakil

Biden aides including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC spokesman Adm. John Kirby have arrived and taken seats in the front row of the audience. So too has Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Jean-Pierre and Kirby are looking at the lectern from which the president will speak, on the right. Austin is among those on the left.

Jean-Pierre and Kirby exchanged pleasantries with some of the reporters seated behind them.

– Niall Stanage

Ahead of Biden’s press conference, Zelensky made the rounds at the NATO summit in Washington, meeting with Biden and a host of other world leaders.

But one leader was center of mind: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has floated a self-described peace mission to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and the U.S. over the past week.

“With all respect to everybody, with all respect to all countries, big and small countries – we have to understand that not all leaders can make negotiations. You need to have some power for this,” Zelensky said at a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington.

Orban is reportedly meeting with former President Trump on Thursday.

– Laura Kelly

One House Democrat weighed in on Biden’s gaffe in which he called Zelensky “Putin” at a NATO summit event, telling The Hill’s Mychael Schnell: “Really terrible. Of all the gaffes.”

Biden’s press conference on Thursday marks his 15th press conference solo since he took office.

That less than many of his predecessors, a common theme of Biden’s presidency in which he has also sat for fewer primetime media interviews.

UC Santa Barbara’s “American Presidency Project” captures a tally of presidential press conferences. Former President Trump held a total of 44 solo press conferences, with a bulk of those occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former President Obama held 64 solo press conferences during his tenure.

Read the stats here.

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz said “lapses can happen,” in reaction to Biden mistakenly referring to “President Putin” when introducing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He added that Biden’s support for Ukraine is what matters.

“Lapses can happen,” Scholz said during a press conference following the end of the NATO summit in Washington.

“If you look at what people say, and the American president has been very clear in his speech, it doesn’t change what he said, he made it clear what he means, that we come together here, that we have all the security partnerships, a common framework to enhance Ukraine’s security to stand up to Russian aggression,” he said.

– Laura Kelly

At a separate NATO event just ahead of the press conference, Biden appeared to mistakenly refer to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” while introducing the foreign leader.

“And now I want to hand it over to the president of Ukraine who has as much current as he does determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin,” Biden said.

Biden quickly realized he had made a mistake, returning the microphone to clarify: “No, we’re going to beat President Putin. President Zelensky. I’m so focused on beating Putin.”

However, Republicans were quick to take advantage of the moment. The Republican National Committee posted a video of the remarks on X.

– Julia Manchester

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough dropped a bit of a bombshell on “Morning Joe” Thursday when he suggested that Biden’s campaign believes former President Obama is behind the growing calls for his former vice president to drop out of the race.

Read more about Scarborough’s remarks.

– Dominick Mastrangelo

The mood among the press corps at the Walter E. Washington Convention center is tense leading up to Biden’s press conference.

At least one reporter, from the UK, lamented about the “momentous times in American politics” as reporters splayed on the floor waiting for the call to go into the room where the press conference is being held.

The Hill’s own Niall Stanage will be in the room.

Ahead of the press conference, Biden is facing growing calls to withdraw from the top of his party’s ticket. The White House hopes the event might reassure Democrats that he is ready to campaign and win in November.

At times on Thursday it appeared the walls were closing in on Biden and his campaign, with reports by NBC News and The New York Times that even campaign aides were casting doubt about his path to victory.

“I think the biggest question now is when does this happen? Not if,” said one campaign surrogate.

Read more on where things stand from The Hill’s White House team.