The United States has experienced a tumultuous week following President Joe Biden’s debate performance, which has shaken up his campaign against Donald Trump, at least for the moment.
Last Thursday night, millions of Americans tuned in to the first televised debate of the 2024 campaign, where Biden and Trump faced off without an audience at CNN studios in Atlanta.
Biden aimed to reassure voters, at 81 years old, that he could still vigorously challenge Trump, who was grappling with political troubles over his criminal conviction.
Having spent a week preparing at Camp David with advisers, Biden appeared flustered and fatigued on stage, often stumbling over his words and losing his train of thought.
In contrast, Trump exuded his usual confidence, though he peppered his performance with numerous falsehoods.
Immediately after the debate, a wave of panicked messages from anonymous Democrats flooded the media, with some commentators openly urging Biden to consider stepping aside.
The Breakdown
The day after, Biden attended a campaign rally and, in a scripted speech, acknowledged his verbal challenges: “I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to.”
“But I know how to tell the truth. I know how to do this job,” he asserted to a cheering crowd.
Despite these efforts, some affluent Democratic donors remained unconvinced, expressing concerns over Biden’s ability to sustain his performance not just until November, but potentially through another four-year term. On social media, they demanded concrete proof of his vitality through more unscripted public appearances, a point the White House vigorously defended.
Following fundraisers in New York and New Jersey, Biden retreated to Camp David for a preplanned family gathering, hoping to weather the storm. However, the first cracks appeared on Tuesday.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, still a powerful figure in her party, deemed it “legitimate” to question Biden’s health.
Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the first elected Democrat, called on Biden to abandon his bid for a second term, cautioning against “delivering us to Trump in 2024.”
Another House member echoed Doggett a day later, with several others publicly expressing reservations about Biden’s age for the first time.
Facing a barrage of questions from reporters, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre attempted to douse the flames on Tuesday and Wednesday, citing “a cold” and “jet lag” from international travel as explanations for Biden’s lackluster performance.
On Wednesday, Biden reassured campaign staff that he’s “in this race to the end and we’re going to win,” according to a source close to the campaign. He also garnered support from Democratic governors, who convened urgently with him at the White House.
“We assured him of our solidarity,” stated Maryland Governor Wes Moore afterward.
Trump’s Take
Despite Trump facing potential imprisonment from his New York criminal conviction linked to hush money payments in 2016 to a porn star, the focus over the past week in Washington has largely been on the potential shake-up at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Across social networks and gatherings, speculation is rife about who might replace Biden at a moment’s notice: Vice President Kamala Harris or perhaps a prominent governor?
The Trump campaign has seized on what it calls the “total collapse of the Democrat Party,” reveling in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s recent partial vindication of his claims of presidential immunity, which temporarily postponed his sentencing in New York.
“If I were on the Trump campaign, I’d be watching this Democratic drama with popcorn in hand, thinking it’s fantastic that I don’t have to defend my boss, who’s under indictment for paying off a porn star,” remarked Peter Loge, a political scientist at George Washington University.
Throughout the Democratic turmoil, Trump has maintained relative silence, expectedly preparing to announce his vice presidential pick.