The White House said Tuesday it wants to “turn the page” on President Joe Biden‘s debate performance last Thursday, which stoked renewed concerns about his age and mental fitness and set off alarm bells among some Democrats about his ability to carry on as the party’s nominee.
Biden has yet to take any questions from reporters on his politically disastrous debate showing against 2024 rival Donald Trump. That continued Tuesday as he visited an emergency operations center in Washington to discuss extreme heat and new workplace protections, where he largely read from a teleprompter and did not speak off-the-cuff as many critics said would be a true test of his competence.
That will change on Friday when he sits for his first television interview since the debate with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre listens to a question during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, July 2, 2024.
Susan Walsh/AP
The White House, seeking to change the narrative before then, also announced a flurry of campaign stops in the coming week that will get Biden on the road and in front of voters.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that Biden will speak with Democratic lawmakers and governors on Wednesday to address their concerns before traveling to battleground states this weekend.
Biden will be in Wisconsin on Friday and Pennsylvania on Sunday, Jean-Pierre said, and will give a solo news conference during next week’s NATO summit that he’s hosting in Washington.
“We’re going to turn the page,” she said. “We’re going to get out there. Across the country, Americans are going to see him for themselves.”
President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to the D.C. Emergency Operations Center, Washington, DC, July 2, 2024.
Evan Vucci/AP
But during the nearly hour-long briefing, a defensive Jean-Pierre faced a repeated tough questions about the debate, the panic it’s caused among some Democrats and Biden’s overall fitness to serve.
“First of all, I want to say we understand the concerns,” Jean-Pierre said. “We get it. The president did not have a great night, as you all know.”
“But I will say this, and the president said this over the past couple of days, certainly right after the debate: He knows how to do the job,” Jean-Pierre said, “and he knows how to do the job not because he says it, because his record proves it.”
Jean-Pierre said “bad night” 13 times as she reiterated that Biden had a cold and that his record over the past three-and-a-half years speaks for itself.
President Joe Biden participates in the CNN Presidential Debate, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Still, some Democrats are continuing to express concern after the debate performance. Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett on Tuesday became the first Democratic member of Congress to call on Biden to withdraw as the party’s presidential nominee.
ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott asked about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s comments earlier Tuesday that it’s fair for people to ask whether Biden was facing “an episode or a condition.”
“Which one is it?” Scott asked.
“Well, what I can tell you is that he had a cold and a bad night. I would not see this as an episode,” Jean-Pierre responded. “I would see this as what it was and what we believe it to be, which is, it was a bad night. And he did, on top of that, he had a cold. And that is the reality of the situation.” She said he hadn’t been taking cold medication.
Jean-Pierre was also asked directly about the president’s health records and whether anything is being hidden from the public eye.
“Absolutely not,” she said.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, said after Biden’s physical in February that he was a “healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency.”
Jean-Pierre was also asked repeatedly about whether Biden will release results from any mental acuity tests.
“The medical team said it is not warranted in this case. We have put forward a thorough, transparent, annual report on his health. So, they have said that is not warranted. It is not necessary. Again, we understand, we understand. We’re not taking away from what you all saw, what the American people saw. We understand, it was a bad night,” she said.
After a lackluster debate performance by President Joe Biden, the White House is aiming to move forward and regain momentum through a series of upcoming events and interviews. Despite facing criticism for his performance against Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump, Biden and his team are determined to refocus their efforts and showcase the president’s leadership and policy agenda in the weeks leading up to the election.
One of the key events on the White House’s agenda is a town hall meeting with voters, where Biden will have the opportunity to directly engage with the American people and address their concerns. This town hall is seen as a crucial opportunity for Biden to connect with voters on a personal level and demonstrate his empathy and understanding of their struggles during these challenging times.
In addition to the town hall, Biden is also scheduled to participate in a series of high-profile interviews with major news outlets, where he will have the chance to articulate his vision for the country and contrast his policies with those of his opponent. These interviews will be a critical platform for Biden to communicate his message to a wide audience and make his case for why he should be re-elected as president.
Furthermore, the White House is planning to roll out a series of policy announcements and initiatives in the coming weeks, focusing on key issues such as healthcare, climate change, and racial justice. These policy proposals are intended to demonstrate Biden’s commitment to addressing the most pressing challenges facing the country and show voters that he has a clear plan for moving the country forward.
Overall, the White House is taking proactive steps to move past Biden’s debate performance and regain momentum in the final stretch of the election campaign. By engaging directly with voters, participating in high-profile interviews, and rolling out new policy proposals, Biden and his team are working to solidify their support and make a compelling case for why he should be given another term in office.
