President Joe Biden faced a critical point in his reelection bid as Democratic calls for him to exit the 2024 race continued to mount despite his efforts to shut them down.
A poor debate performance against Donald Trump in June reignited questions about Biden's age and fitness to carry out his campaign and serve another four years. While Biden defiantly insisted he was staying the course, he later announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Biden introduces Zelenskyy as Putin at NATO summit
Biden introduced Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as President Putin at a meeting about the Ukraine Compact at the NATO summit Thursday evening.
Biden quickly corrected himself, saying that he was "so focused on beating Putin."
Zelenskyy laughed off the gaffe.
"I'm better," Zelenskyy said.
"You are a hell of a lot better," Biden replied.
The exchange came shortly before Biden was scheduled to hold his first solo news conference since the presidential debate.
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Biden introduces Zelenskyy as Putin in gaffe during NATO summit meetingPresident Joe Biden accidentally called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by the name of his rival, President Vladimir Putin, when introducing him at the NATO summit.
ABCNews.com
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Jul 11, 2024, 5:26 PM EDT
14th House Democrat pushes Biden to step aside, questions 'fitness to do the job'
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., has become the 14th House Democrat to call for Biden to end his campaign and even questioned if he should remain in office.
Gluesenkamp Perez, who flipped a district in 2022, said in her statement Thursday she had spoken with constituents in the last two weeks and they expressed worry about Biden's age and health.
"Like most people, I represent in Southwest Washington, I doubt the President’s judgment about his health, his fitness to do the job, and whether he is the one making important decisions about our country, rather than [an] unelected advisors," she said.
In this March 6, 2024, file photo, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez participates in the Bipartisan Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act news conference in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, FILE
"The crisis of confidence in the President’s leadership needs to come to an end," the congresswoman added.
-ABC News' Lauren Peller
Jul 11, 2024, 4:45 PM EDT
Senate Democrats describe 'tense' meeting with Biden campaign officials
Senate Democrats met with top Biden campaign officials behind closed doors Thursday for about two hours trying to lay out the path to victory for the president.
One senator said the meeting was 'tense' at times.
A number of senators expressed concerns about the president being shielded by his advisers, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told ABC News.
Sen. Mazie Hirono speaks to reporters after receiving a briefing from President Biden's campaign advisors amid questions about Biden's reelection campaign, on Capitol Hill, July 11, 2024.
Kevin Mohatt/Reuters
Some senators stated they were being put in "difficult," "impossible" or "untenable" positions by having to defend the president to constituents back home after the debate, especially for those senators in tough races, according to the sources.
No Biden campaign polling was shared with senators but instead Biden's advisers laid out a strategy, including showcasing the president's record, going after Trump, campaigning on a second-term agenda and building out the coalition of voters, sources said.
One senator who spoke to ABC News said, "I needed to see hard data that showed a path to success in November and we did not get that."
"I continue to have concerns that only Joe Biden can address, not his campaign staff," the senator said.
-ABC News' Rachel Scott and Allison Pecorin
Jul 11, 2024, 4:24 PM EDT
13th House Democrat calls on Biden to bow out
Arizona Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton became the 13th House member to openly call on Biden to leave the race Thursday.
Stanton touted Biden's years of work in his statement but said the president's "most defining legacy, though, is as a fierce defender of American democracy.
In this March 20, 2024, file photo, Rep. Greg Stanton speaks prior to President Joe Biden's remarks at Intel Ocotillo Campus, in Chandler, Arizona.
Rebecca Noble/Getty Images, FILE
"The Democratic Party must have a nominee who can effectively make the case against Trump, and have the confidence of the American people to handle the rigors of the hardest job on the planet for the next four years," Stanton said.
