WASHINGTON On Thursday, Joe Biden had to take a test that he has escaped thus far this year: a lone press conference with inquiries from the White House press corps. The purpose of the press conference was to reassure a dejected group of Democratic lawmakers, supporters, and voters who could yet be won over this year that Biden is still capable of serving as president. In an attempt to dispel the notion that, at 81, Biden has the vitality and commanding presence that the American people anticipate from the commander-in-chief, Biden has attempted to characterize his weak and unintelligible performance versus Republican Donald Trump in the June 27 debate as an anomaly.
At least two of his mistakes were referring to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, as “President Putin” at an earlier event, and referring to Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump” in response to a reporter’s question about her. However, he also provided thorough answers regarding his efforts to maintain NATO and his intentions to seek reelection. Furthermore, despite the growing number of Democratic politicians urging him to withdraw, he claimed he was staying in the contest.

He made a major name error yet stayed unflinching

During the press conference, Biden made a major gaffe early on when he called Vice President Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump” and stated that he chose her because he thought she could defeat Trump. Before the press conference, Biden had made a big mistake during the NATO meeting involving a name, which immediately made people less optimistic about his performance. As he introduced Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, who is most clearly not Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, Biden remarked, “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.” Gasps were heard as soon as Biden realized his mistake and addressed Zelenskyy, asking, “President Putin? You will triumph over President Putin.
When a reporter brought up his allusion to “Vice President Trump” and pointed out that the presumed Republican nominee’s campaign was already publicizing the error, he remained unflinching. He said, “Listen to him,” and then he left the stage. A few minutes later, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, one of the House Democrats, released a statement in which he demanded that the president step down.

“I have to finish this job,” he urged

The vice president and president dance delicately, and many Democrats are openly wishing that Harris would take Biden’s position on the ticket. Biden only mentioned Harris in answer to direct inquiries about whether he thought she was capable of succeeding him, failing to acknowledge the animosity that existed between them. Citing Harris’s background as a prosecutor and senator from the United States, Biden declared, “I wouldn’t have picked her unless I thought she was qualified to be president.”
However, he recognized that he had moved past his 2020 campaign pledge to serve as a “bridge” to a new generation of Democrats in response to a follow-up inquiry. He mentioned nothing about his vice president, saying instead, “What changed was the gravity of the situation I inherited.” He said, “I’ve got to finish this job,” several times. As the press conference came to a close, Biden was asked explicitly if he would resign in favor of Harris if polls indicated that she had a greater chance of defeating Trump. Biden answered, “No, unless they come back and say there’s no way you can win.” Then he said, “No poll’s saying that,” in a stage whisper.

He asserted that his outcomes have exceeded his rhetoric

In his argument, Biden attempted to emphasize that his actions speak louder than his words. He said that the recent NATO meeting had improved America’s standing. Has there ever been a more successful conference? Speaking in prepared remarks, Biden addressed a group of reporters who were frequently only able to see the conference.
As he rattled off statistics like the 800,000 manufacturing jobs created under his watch, he spoke on how inflation had decreased from its 2022 peak and claimed that other foreign leaders would like to exchange their economies for what the United States has. Additionally, he pledged to limit the amount that rent increases for tenants of landlords who participate in a tax credit scheme for affordable housing might be made. Biden has made this identical argument in past campaign speeches, but it hasn’t always helped his standing. If it is repeated frequently, his team thinks it will become ingrained.

He mentioned his involvement with NATO. Commencing the news conference, Biden spoke extensively about NATO and its importance to the US, highlighting one of his most potent political points against Trump, who has expressed open skepticism towards the alliance and has even said that he would incite Russia to strike NATO countries he deemed to be lawbreakers. Biden identified with the American heritage of NATO defense, which stretches “from Truman to Reagan to me.” He posed the question, “Every American must ask herself or himself: Is the world safer with NATO?”
Later, in response to a question from a European journalist about governments there fearing that Trump would win, Biden began an in-depth account of how he assisted in bringing Finland into the alliance. Subsequently, he elaborated on how to retaliate against China for backing Russia in its conflict with Ukraine and asserted that he would still be able to communicate with both Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.