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President Biden on Friday declared he is “staying in the race” ahead of what is seen as a pivotal primetime interview after a presidential debate performance last week that has sparked calls from some Democrats for him to step aside.

Biden, in a speech in Madison, Wisconsin, referenced the debate in which he struggled and appeared to lose his train of thought multiple times. It has fueled questions about his mental acuity and led to calls for him to be replaced on the 2024 Democratic ticket.

Biden said he couldn’t say “it’s my best performance” and acknowledged there had been questions since then. 

BIDEN FACES THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL WEEKEND OF HIS PRESIDENTIAL REMATCH WITH TRUMP

President Biden speaks at a campaign rally at Sherman Middle School in Madison, Wis., Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

“There’s been a lot of speculation: What’s Joe going to do? Is he going to stay in the race? Is he going to drop out? What’s he going to do?” Biden told the crowd. “Well, here’s my answer: I am running and going to win again.”

He later said some people are trying to “push” him out of the race.

“Let me say this as clearly as I can: I’m staying in the race,” Biden said.

He then appeared to stumble again, saying he would beat Trump in 2020, although he added that he’s going to beat him again in 2024.

BIDEN RAMPS UP SPENDING IN BID TO STEADY HIS FALTERING CAMPAIGN

 “I’ll beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again in 2020. By the way, we’re going to do it again in 2024,” he said.

The remarks came hours before the airing of a primetime Friday night interview on ABC News. The interview, being conducted by anchor George Stephanopoulos, will be airing at 8 p.m. ET, and the network vowed “a transcript of the unedited interview will be made available the same day.”

According to a press release, the first clip will air on Friday’s “World News Tonight,” and the full interview will be aired again on Sunday’s installment of “This Week.” 

A growing number of Democrats and liberal media figures have called for Biden to step aside, although others have backed him. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey urged Biden on Friday to “listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump.”

WHAT BIDEN SAID ABOUT HIS DEBATE PERFORMANCE 

This week, three House Democrats publicly called on Biden to step aside from his re-election bid, while more than a dozen Democratic members of Congress and governors publicly raised serious concerns about whether Biden could continue as the party’s standard-bearer.

However, the White House and the Biden campaign have repeatedly dismissed questions about his health.

“Does President Biden, at 81 years old, have Alzheimer’s, any form of dementia or degenerative illness that cause these sorts of lapses? And it’s a yes or no question,” a reporter asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Tuesday afternoon.

“Are you ready for it? It’s a no. And I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question,” Jean-Pierre responded, referring to former President Trump.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest political news from Washington, D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. 

Here’s what’s happening…

– Biden says he’s ‘not going anywhere’

– White House staff ‘miserable’: report

– President to participate in crucial post-debate interview

JUST THE TWO OF US

Former President Trump on Thursday challenged President Biden to another debate, this time with no moderators. 

In a Truth Social post, Trump requested a “no holds barred” and “all on” discussion with Biden about the future of the country. 

“Let Joe explain why he wants Open Borders, with millions of people, and many violent criminals from parts unknown, pouring into our once great Nation, or why he wants Men Playing in Women’s Sports, or demand ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES within five years, or why he allowed INFLATION TO RUN RAMPANT, destroying the people of our Country, and so much more,” he wrote. …Read more

Former president Donald Trump  and President Joe Biden participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

White House

SO WHICH IS IT?: Biden seemingly contradicts own press secretary about seeing a doc after the debate …Read more

‘WE NEED YOU!’: Biden tells White House audience he’s ‘not going anywhere’ during Fourth of July party …Read more

‘WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S’: White House staff ‘miserable’ amid pressure on Biden: report …Read more

Capitol Hill

‘NOT AN ABERRATION’: Everyone’s known for years Biden has mental lapses: anonymous Dem senator …Read more

Tales from the Campaign Trail

CA$H DUMP: Biden campaign launches $50M paid media blitz despite mounting pressure to drop out …Read more

‘KISS OF DEATH’: Democratic Rep warns dissing Kamala as Biden replacement would be the ‘kiss of death’ for the party …Read more

BY GEORGE: ABC’s Stephanopoulos lands crucial Biden interview, putting spotlight on his partisan past …Read more

FOUNDING FATHER KNOWS BEST: Biden should follow in George Washington’s footsteps and ‘step aside’ says House Dem  …Read more

‘OLD FRIEND’: Underdog Dem using Dave Chappelle show to gain edge in pivotal swing state …Read more

Dave Chappelle performs at Radio City Music Hall on June 19, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola)

BIDEN’S BIGGEST TEST: President faces the most consequential weekend of his presidential rematch with Trump …Read more

MOUSE TRAP: Abigail Disney says she’ll withhold donations unless Biden drops out …Read more

WHAT WOULD GRETCHEN DO?: How would a President Whitmer handle border crisis, immigration? …Read more

NO ‘LAFFIN’ MATTER?: Trump tests out new nickname for Kamala Harris amid speculation she’ll replace Biden …Read more 

Vice President Harris met with cast members of “Queer Eye” at the White House, in which captions in a clip of the meeting did not match what was said. (Vice President Harris X post)

‘GOT TO GET BEYOND THIS’: Harris spent months shooting down concerns over Biden’s mental competency …Read more

‘SQUARELY’ ON BIDEN: Top 3 things Biden has to nail in primetime ABC interview: Experts …Read more

Across America

‘FEEDING IT’: Harvard slammed for ‘smoke and mirrors’ antisemitism response: ‘They actually make things worse’ …Read more

‘MODERN JIM CROW’: New California firearms tax prompts 2nd Amendment lawsuit …Read more

HAWKEYE HORROR: Honduran illegal immigrant charged with assaulting 12-year-old girl …Read more

‘REALLY GOOD TIME’: New Yorker article calls on Dems to use 25th Amendment to remove Biden …Read more

On the World Stage

LABOUR LANDSLIDE: Keir Starmer the new UK prime minister after massive election win …Read more

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks to his supporters at the Tate Modern in London, Friday, July 5, 2024. Labour Party leader Starmer says voters “have spoken and they are ready for change” as an exit poll points to landslide win, and is expected to be the next British Prime Minister. The Labour Party has won the general election.  (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE: Father of Marine killed in action turns grief into appreciation …Read more

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Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said if President Biden steps down, not choosing Vice President Kamala Harris as the new nominee would be “the kiss of death” for Democrats.

The first presidential debate sparked growing calls for Biden to drop out of the race to allow a new candidate to step in, and several candidates other than the vice president have been floated as potential replacements.

Thompson described Harris as being “incredibly strong” and suggested she is the only candidate Democrats can replace Biden with in 2024.

“You can’t say Biden has done a good job without saying she’s done a good job,” Thompson told Axios, adding that choosing a candidate other than Harris “would be the kiss of death for the party.”

SHADOW CAMPAIGNS: 7 DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES WHO COULD STEP IN IF PRESIDENT BIDEN DROPS OUT OF 2024 RACE

Vice President Kamala Harris was accused of “pandering” in a widely mocked appearance during the Black Entertainment Television Awards Sunday night. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Amid calls to replace Biden on the 2024 ticket, many Democrats have voiced support for Harris if a new nominee is chosen.

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., recently said he would support Harris if Biden drops out.

“We should do everything we can to bolster her, whether it’s in second place or the top of the ticket,” Clyburn told MSNBC during the Biden debate backlash.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY: COULD CAMPAIGN FINANCES KEEP BIDEN ON THE BALLOT?

“I will support her if he were to step aside,” Clyburn said. “But I’m going to support her going forward and sometime in the future. I want this ticket to continue to be Biden-Harris. And then we will see what happens after the next election.”

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., before a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, “Havoc in the Heartland: How Secretary Mayorkas’ Failed Leadership Has Impacted the States,” at the Capitol Jan. 10, 2024, in Washington, D.C.  (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., a member of the progressive “Squad,” said Harris is the “obvious” replacement for Biden. 

“If our president decides this is not a pathway forward for him, we have to move very quickly. There’s not going to be time for a primary. That time is past,” Lee told “Mornings with Zerlina” Wednesday. “The vice president is the obvious choice. She’s sitting right there.”

President Biden stands at his podium during the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season against former President Trump at CNN’s studios in Atlanta June 27, 2024. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

On the short list of other potential Biden replacements are California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

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Amid speculation over who would be the best fit to replace Biden on the 2024 ticket, a new CNN poll found Harris performed better than Biden in a hypothetical matchup against Trump. 

As President Biden, 81, seeks to address mounting concerns about his mental acuity during his ABC primetime interview Friday night, he will have to convey to his Democratic base and middle-of-the-road voters that he is fit to remain the commander-in-chief another four years.

Here are the top three things President Biden has to nail in his highly anticipated interview with George Stephanopoulos, according to political strategists.

1. Clarity of his mental acuity

Biden will undoubtedly have to “speak forcefully” and clearly to start dispelling concerns that he is unfit to continue on as president. The purpose of the interview, first and foremost, will be to show voters that Biden’s poor debate performance against former President Trump was “a moment in time” and “not a symptom of how he is,” according to Democratic strategist Mustafa Rashed.

WH AIDES, CAMPAIGN STAFF REPORTEDLY ‘MISERABLE’ AS PRESSURE BUILDS ON BIDEN TO DROP OUT

President Biden, left, will sit down with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos for a pre-taped interview on Friday. (Getty Images)

“It’s not even going to be about the issues,” Rashed – president and CEO of the Philadelphia-based Bellevue Strategies government firm – told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

“This is squarely a referendum on the president and his ability to do the job.”

The “little things” will go a long way, Rashed continued, adding that Biden will have to meet “a very high bar” and speak clearly since he faced criticism for his raspy voice during the debate. 

“They may be guised through policy questions, because that’s how you get someone to talk about subjects that they are very well versed on, but the subject quality of the answers is what we’re going to be watching is how he answers, not necessarily what but how he answers,” Rashed said. 

“Middle ground voters are the ones that have questions,” Rashed continued. “It’s not Republicans, they already know how they feel about this president. He’s trying to win independent voters and shore up Democrats to believe that he’s best person for the job.”

HOLLYWOOD MEGADONOR CALLS ON DEMS TO ‘STOP GIVING’ MONEY UNTIL BIDEN DROPS OUT

Democrats and liberal media pundits are dismissing polls showing former President Trump, left, gaining support among Black voters. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images | Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

2. Winning back Democrats who have thrown in the towel

A handful of Democratic lawmakers have already called on President Biden to retire, while several others have expressed concerns about the president’s age. Regaining their trust ahead of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) convention is crucial.

“There’s possible revolt within the Democratic Party, and he’s got to make sure they say, ‘Okay, well, we’re going to keep him on board, we are better off having this guy as our standard bearer than the chaos of throwing it open and having an unclear procedure about what comes next,'” presidential historian Tevi Troy told Fox News Digital.

Keeping Biden on the ticket would be better for the DNC versus “having an unvetted candidate take over, or the other alternative is an unpopular Kamala Harris,” Troy, who served in senior leadership in HHS in the George W. Bush administration, said.

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“It’s not so easy to replace him, so you’ve got to reassure the Democratic base. And then the third thing is you’ve got to reassure the larger voting public,” he said. “You’ve got to get that kind of middle of the road voter who says, you know, ‘I don’t like Trump, but I want somebody who is going to be able to stand up to Putin or Xi without falling asleep or wilting.'”

BIDEN REPLACEMENT? WHITMER DENIES ‘DRAFT GRETCH’ CAMPAIGN, BUT HER STAR IS RISING

A handful of Democratic lawmakers have already called on President Biden to retire. (Joe Biden on MSNBC screenshot)

3. The economy

As everyday Americans feel the impact of inflation in their wallets, President Biden must articulate his plans to bolster the economy, especially among swing-state voters.

“Our common ground poll we do every quarter, and consistently, the number one issue, and overwhelmingly, is inflation and the economy,” Nathan Benefield, senior vice president of the Pennsylvania-based think tank Commonwealth Foundation, told Fox News Digital.

“When you get down to the numbers, wages in the last three years have not kept up with with prices, and so Pennsylvania families are literally poorer than they were three years ago,” Benefield said. “That’s that’s weighing on them. I think the President needs to address that and acknowledge that cost, and acknowledge the government’s role in that and talk about the solutions to inflation from from that perspective, rather than shifting the blame or ignoring that problem entirely.”

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Benefield suggested that people are experiencing inflation everywhere, in grocery stores with higher prices for food products, when dining out less due to increased costs, at the gas pump, and notably in housing, where interest rates and prices have risen.

“And so you really have kind of seen [inflation] across the board,” he said.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Former President Trump is rolling out new nicknames for Vice President Kamala Harris as part of a new focus on the VP, just as she is being touted as a potential replacement for President Biden on the 2024 ticket after Biden suffered a disastrous debate performance.

Trump regularly coins nicknames for his political opponents, from Low Energy Jeb [Bush] to “Crooked Hillary” [Clinton]. For Biden, he has called him “Slow Joe,” “Sleepy Joe” and “Crooked Joe,” among others.

Now, after a debate performance from Biden that has sparked panic among some Democrats and media figures and seen him slump in the polls, Trump turned his attention this week to Harris. 

BIDEN TELLS WHITE HOUSE AUDIENCE HE’S ‘NOT GOING ANYWHERE’ DURING FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION 

Vice President Kamala Harris has been named as a potential replacement for President Biden. (Leigh Vogel/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

As vice president, Harris would succeed Biden if he resigned from office, and she would also be a top contender for the 2024 Democratic nomination if Biden announced that he does not intend to serve a second term.

Trump, in a Truth Social post, accused Biden of having “choked like a dog” during the debate and offered his “congratulations” to the vice president as he dubbed her “Laffin’ Kamala Harris.”

“Also, respects to our potentially new Democrat Challenger, Laffin’ Kamala Harris,” he said. “She did poorly in the Democrat Nominating process, starting out at Number Two, and ending up defeated and dropping out, even before getting to Iowa, but that doesn’t mean she’s not a ‘highly talented’ politician!”

WH AIDES, CAMPAIGN STAFF REPORTEDLY ‘MISERABLE’ AS PRESSURE BUILDS ON BIDEN TO DROP OUT

Former President Trump walks on stage to deliver the keynote address at the Faith & Freedom Coalitions Road to Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on June 22, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

A day earlier, the Trump campaign had put out a statement slamming Democrats and the media for an alleged cover-up to hide Biden’s alleged mental acuity.

“Every one of them has lied about Joe Biden’s cognitive state and supported his disastrous policies over the past four years, especially Cackling Copilot Kamala Harris,” the statement said.

A national poll released Tuesday by CNN suggests Harris performs slightly better than Biden in a matchup with Trump.

HOLLYWOOD MEGADONOR CALLS ON DEMS TO ‘STOP GIVING’ MONEY UNTIL BIDEN DROPS OUT

“Harris’ slightly stronger showing against Trump rests at least in part on broader support from women (50% of female voters back Harris over Trump vs. 44% for Biden against Trump) and independents (43% Harris vs. 34% Biden),” the poll notes in a release.

Biden, who at age 81 is the oldest president in the nation’s history, is facing the roughest stretch of his bid for a second term in the White House. Biden’s campaign has repeatedly insisted that the president has no intention of dropping out of the race.

On Thursday, he told supporters that he is not leaving the race. A supporter called out at an Independence Day event, saying, “Keep up the fight. We need you!”

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Biden responded, “You got me, man. I’m not going anywhere.”

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.

A New England Democrat has said that President Biden should “step aside” and do as former President Washington did to make way for new leaders. 

Rep. Seth Moulton, D–Mass., joined the growing list of liberals calling for Biden to end his re-election bid after the recent presidential debate in Atlanta. 

Concerns over Biden’s cognitive health following his performance at the debate sparked growing calls among Democrats for the president to drop out of the race.

“President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding father, George Washington’s footsteps, and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump,” Moulton told WBUR Thursday.

Moulton was referring to when President Washington voluntarily stepped down from the role in 1797 after eight years, setting the precedent that a president should only serve two terms in office.

BIDEN ‘SHARP AND FOCUSED’ BUT ALSO ‘CONFUSED AND FORGETFUL,’ AP REPORTS IN RIDICULED HEADLINE

President Biden talks with Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), right, after the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 7, 2023 in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Jacquelyn Martin)

The congressman joins at least two other Democratic representatives in officially calling for the president to step down as the nominee. 

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, was the first House Democrat to call on the president to bow out of the race on Tuesday.

LONGTIME BIDEN FRIENDS SAY PRESIDENT DIDN’T REMEMBER THEIR NAMES IN SOCIAL SETTINGS: REPORT

“I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so,” Doggett said.

President Biden stands at his podium during the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections between himself and former President Trump at CNN’s studios in Atlanta on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., said that while he will support Biden in his re-election bid, he thinks the president should get out of the race.

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“I’m going to support [Biden], but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere … What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility of keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race,” the Arizona Democrat said.

While more Democrats call on Biden to pass the torch to another candidate, the president said during a 4th of July celebration Thursday that he is “not going anywhere.”

Former President Trump on Thursday challenged President Biden to another debate, this time with no moderators. 

In a Truth Social post, Trump requested a “no holds barred” and “all on” discussion with Biden about the future of the country. 

“Let Joe explain why he wants Open Borders, with millions of people, and many violent criminals from parts unknown, pouring into our once great Nation, or why he wants Men Playing in Women’s Sports, or demand ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES within five years, or why he allowed INFLATION TO RUN RAMPANT, destroying the people of our Country, and so much more.

BIDEN TELLS WHITE HOUSE AUDIENCE HE’S ‘NOT GOING ANYWHERE’ DURING FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Former President Trump participates in the first presidential debate at CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“It would also, under great pressure, prove his ‘competence,’ or lack thereof. Likewise it would be yet another test for me. What a great evening it would be, just the two of us, one on one, in a good, old fashioned Debate, the way they used to be. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!!!” 

A spokesperson for President Biden’s campaign did not immediately respond Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

BIDEN FACES THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL WEEKEND OF HIS PRESIDENTIAL REMATCH WITH TRUMP

President Biden faces calls from Democratic Party officials, donors and pundits to step aside and let another presidential candidate lead the party in 2024.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump’s eagerness to take on Biden again comes as no surprise, as the Democratic president is widely regarded to have lost in their first encounter of the 2024 race.

The 81-year-old incumbent’s halting delivery and stumbling answers during the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta sparked widespread panic among Democrats and have spurred calls from pundits, editorial writers and some party donors for Biden to step aside in favor of a younger, more able standard-bearer.

Biden so far has stubbornly resisted the calls to step aside. During remarks at a White House celebration for the Fourth of July, he told the audience, “I’m not going anywhere.” 

BIDEN RAMPS UP SPENDING IN BID TO STEADY HIS FALTERING CAMPAIGN

President Biden and former President Trump squared off in their high-stakes 2024 election debate rematch on Thursday and the contrast between the pair could not have been starker, a body language expert tells Fox News. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients reportedly held an all-staff meeting Wednesday to urge team members to tune out the “noise” and focus on the task of governing.

Even as Zients acknowledged that the days since the Atlanta matchup between Biden and Trump have been challenging, the chief of staff stressed to White House aides the accomplishments and the track record of the Democratic administration and said governing will only become more crucial once the campaign season heats up, particularly after the Fourth of July holiday.

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ABC News is scheduled to host the second debate between Biden and Trump on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 9 p.m. ET. The network has not yet announced the moderators for that debate.  

Fox News Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi, Paul Steinahuser and Kendall Tietz contributed to this report.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

President Biden told a crowd of supporters on the Fourth of July that he has no plans to drop out of the election, despite continued struggles and gaffes during unscripted events.

The president delivered his July 4th remarks on Thursday from the White House’s South Lawn. He spoke with the aid of a teleprompter largely without incident — with the notable exception of one moment he went off-script.

“I was in that World War I cemetery in France — the one that one of our colleagues, the former president, didn’t want to go and be up there. I probably shouldn’t say,” Biden said to the White House audience. “At any rate, we got to just remember who the hell we are. We’re the United States of America.”

WH AIDES, CAMPAIGN STAFF REPORTEDLY ‘MISERABLE’ AS PRESSURE BUILDS ON BIDEN TO DROP OUT

First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff watch as President Joe Biden raises the hand of Vice President Kamala Harris while they view the Independence Day firework display over the National Mall from the balcony of the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

But the Biden campaign is unbothered by the president’s gaffes and has doubled-down on its assertion that he will stay in the race.

At one point, a South Lawn attendee called out in support of Biden from the crowd, saying, “Keep up the fight. We need you!”

Biden responded, “You got me, man. I’m not going anywhere.”

HOLLYWOOD MEGADONOR CALLS ON DEMS TO ‘STOP GIVING’ MONEY UNTIL BIDEN DROPS OUT

Supporters listen during a campaign event for President Joe Biden at The North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The president has faced increasing scrutiny and calls to drop out of the 2024 election following his widely panned debate performance on June 27 against former President Trump. 

Biden, who at age 81 is the oldest president in the nation’s history, is under strict scrutiny from politicians, editorial writers, political pundits and party donors over concerns about his cognitive ability and ability to serve as the country’s commander-in-chief.

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President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, with “VOTE” printed on her dress, gesture to supporters at a post-debate campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients reportedly held an all-staff meeting Wednesday to urge team members to tune out the “noise” and focus on the task of governing.

Even as Zients acknowledged that the days since the Atlanta matchup between Biden and Trump have been challenging, the chief of staff stressed to White House aides the accomplishments and the track record of the Democratic administration and said governing will only become more crucial once the campaign season heats up, particularly after the Fourth of July holiday.

Fox News Digital’s Kendall Tietz contributed to this report.

As he frantically fights to salvage his campaign following last week’s disastrous debate performance, the next couple of days may determine if President Biden can survive or fall victim to a rising tide of calls from within his own party to end his re-election bid.

The tests for the 81-year-old president begin on Friday, as he aims to prove that he has the fortitude to defeat former President Trump in their 2024 election rematch.

First up is a rally Friday afternoon in battleground Wisconsin, which will be followed by a sit-down interview with ABC News that will run in prime time on network television. On Sunday, the president and First Lady Jill Biden appear in Pennsylvania, another key swing state he needs to carry to win re-election.

Through it all, the oldest president in the nation’s history will need to show Americans that he still has the stamina and acuity to handle the toughest and most demanding job in the world.

BIDEN RAMPS UP SPENDING IN BID TO STEADY HIS FALTERING CAMPAIGN

President Biden and former President Trump face off in a debate, on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images)

It’s a test Biden decidedly failed last week in Atlanta, Georgia, after his halting delivery and stumbling answers during the debate with Trump sparked widespread panic in the Democratic Party and spurred calls from political pundits, editorial writers and some party donors for Biden to step aside as the party’s 2024 standard-bearer.

This week, three House Democrats publicly called on Biden to step aside from his re-election bid, while more than a dozen Democratic members of Congress and governors publicly raised serious concerns about whether Biden could continue as the party’s standard-bearer.

WHAT BIDEN SAID ABOUT HIS DEBATE PERFORMANCE 

Facing a slew of red flags in post-debate public opinion polls and a growing chorus of prominent Democrats urging the president to quickly decide whether he can successfully continue his campaign, the next few days could potentially make or break Biden.

President Joe Biden reacts after speaking at a campaign rally in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, June. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Biden’s campaign has repeatedly insisted that the president has no intention of dropping out of the race.

And publicly, the president remains steadfast.

“I’m the Democratic Party’s nominee. No one is pushing me out. I’m not leaving, I’m in this race to the end, and WE are going to win this election,” Biden wrote in a text to supporters on Wednesday afternoon. 

He made similar comments earlier in the day on a Zoom call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staffers.

TRUMP GETS BOOST IN POST DEBATE POLLS AFTER BIDEN’S BOTCHED PERFORMANCE

The president’s also made calls to senior congressional leaders and on Wednesday night huddled with the nation’s Democratic governors.

Sources with knowledge of the meeting say Biden faced questions about his health, stamina, and political viability going forward.

Speaking with reporters following the meeting, Democratic Governors Association chair and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Maryland Gov Wes Moore boosted Biden with supportive comments.

But Moore also noted that “we always believe that when you when you love someone, you tell them the truth. And I think we came in, and we were honest about the feedback that we were getting. We were honest about the concerns that we are hearing from people.”

Biden acknowledged in two recorded radio interviews that ran on Thursday morning that he “screwed up” and “made a mistake” at the debate.

First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Douglass Emhoff watch as President Joe Biden raises the hand of Vice President Kamala Harris while they view the Independence Day firework display over the National Mall from the balcony of the White House, Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

But hours later, at an Independence Day celebration at the White House, after a guest yelled out in support of the president, Biden reiterated that “I’m not going anywhere.”

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The clock is likely ticking for Biden to quickly prove his mettle — both to his party and to voters.

“He has got a very short period of time to talk to the American people,” Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan told CNN.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Amid mounting pressure on President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race, his campaign announced a massive media blitz to the tune of $50 million that will target battleground state voters.

The media blitz will target Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the campaign said.

In addition, the campaign said it will be executing an “aggressive, targeted campaign” to appeal to young and diverse voters which also includes an “aggressive travel schedule” for the president.

He will travel to every battleground state along with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first lady and the second gentleman.

DEMOCRATIC DONORS UNSURE IF BIDEN CAMPAIGN CAN CONTINUE: REPORTS

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, with “VOTE” printed on her dress, gesture to supporters at a post-debate campaign rally on June 28, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

The announcement of the “aggressive” campaign comes after Biden told a group of Democratic governors that he plans to stop scheduling events after 8 p.m. so he can “get more sleep,” according to a report from The New York Times.  

The 81-year-old president is the oldest in the nation’s history. His disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump reportedly left Democrats in a “panic,” with many donors refusing to give money to the party unless Biden drops out.

Despite this, Biden’s campaign boasted about its “record-breaking” $127 million fundraising haul in June, saying they are leveraging “a substantial infrastructure advantage over the Trump campaign and RNC with new efforts on the ground.”

HOLLYWOOD MEGADONOR ARI EMANUEL TORCHES BIDEN, SAYS DONORS ARE MOVING MONEYY DOWNBALLOT: ‘WE’RE IN F— CITY’

A survey by The New York Times and Siena College revealed that Trump received a significant boost following his debate performance.

According to the poll, Trump now tops Biden 49%-43% among likely voters nationwide, which is a three-point swing toward the presumptive GOP presidential nominee from the previous New York Times/Siena College poll from just a week ago.

President Biden and former President Trump. ( Win McNamee/Getty Images/Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Trump’s lead over Biden edges up to 49%-41% among the larger pool of registered voters.

However, Biden has remained steadfast in his commitment to running for a second term. During a Fourth of July celebration at the White House, Biden said “You got me, man” and “I’m not going anywhere” in response to the crowd calling out, “We need you.”

In this month’s push, Biden’s campaign said that they will target “issues that will decide this election” like “a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, economic relief and opportunities for middle- and working-class families, and the threat Donald Trump poses to our democracy and the rule of law.”

Supporters listen during a US President Joe Biden campaign event at The North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC on Friday, June 28, 2024. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The campaign also plans on using their large budget to target key events in July, including the Olympic Games on NBC, Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular and The Bachelorette season premiere.

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The campaign’s expenditure is part of their continued effort to appeal to a “diverse group” of voters that, they say, is the backbone of their administration.

Biden will kick off his new push with a trip to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday. He’ll deliver remarks at a campaign event with supporters. His campaign said he will be joined by Governor Tony Evers, Congressman Mark Pocan and others.

Following Biden’s remarks at the event, he is scheduled to sit down for an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Hours after the White House told reporters that President Biden had not had any recent medical exams, the president reportedly contradicted his press secretary by telling governors that he had a recent medical checkup.

When pressed about the president’s health during a press briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explicitly told reporters that Biden has not had any medical exams since his last annual physical.

“Has the president had any medical exams since his last annual physical in February?” CNN’s Min Jung “MJ” Lee asked.

“And got – and we were able to talk to the – to his doctor about that, and that is a no,” Jean-Pierre said.

NEWSOM DOUBLES DOWN ON SUPPORT FOR BIDEN IN MICHIGAN: ‘I BELIEVE IN HIS CHARACTER’

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre assured reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday that President Biden had not received a medical exam since his annual exam in February. (Getty Images)

Jean-Pierre reiterated that the 81-year-old president had not received any kind of medical exam.

“He hasn’t had any kind of medical exam?” Jung said.

“No,” Jean-Pierre replied.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speak to the media outside the White House on July 3, 2024. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Jean-Pierre’s comments came just hours before Biden met with Democrat governors at the White House on Wednesday night. 

According to the New York Times, Biden told governors that had seen the White House physician to check on the cold his campaign said that he had during the presidential debate against Trump.

FEAR SPREADS AMONG CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS PRIVATELY CALLING FOR BIDEN’S SUCCESSION

Biden also reportedly told governors that he would no longer schedule events after 8 p.m. so he could “get more sleep,” the outlet reported.

When questioned about the seemingly contradictory comments, the White House sent the following statement to Fox News Digital:

“Several days later, the President was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well,” the White House press office clarified.

President Biden is shown during a visit to the D.C. Emergency Operations Center on July 2, 2024. (AP/Evan Vucci)

The comments come as Biden’s closest allies, politicians and the media have raised concerns about the president’s age and mental acuity.

With a raspy voice and rambling answers, Biden struggled during portions of last week’s presidential debate.

Following the debate, Democrats and liberal media figures appeared to be in a “panic” after Biden’s performance.

Voters, lawmakers and media outlets have expressed concerns over Biden’s age and ability to serve a second term after the debate. (Getty Images)

The optics led to a full-on meltdown in Democrat-friendly media, with journalists at various outlets reporting on dozens of Democratic Party officials who said Biden should consider refusing his party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

Some strategists have suggested the Democratic Party must act quickly to replace Biden before his nomination is made official.

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Vice President Harris has been largely ruled out as a potential replacement due to her unpopularity with voters. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have each previously been floated as a potential last-minute replacement.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom remains steadfastly committed to the Biden-Harris 2024 presidential ticket, despite admitting during an Independence Day Democratic campaign event in Michigan that the presidential debate against former President Donald Trump “did not go as well” as Biden had hoped. 

“I was asked and tasked by President Biden, proudly, to fly from California to Georgia to represent the campaign right after that debate,” Newsom told a crowd of supporters at the Van Buren Dems BBQ for Biden-Harris in South Haven, Michigan, on Thursday. 

“I had a lot of talking points in mind, you may have noticed if you saw me, I didn’t bring them with me. And that’s to make the obvious point – things did not go as well as the campaign had hoped, and obviously did not go as well as President Biden had hoped,” he said. 

Newsom – who has vehemently denied claims that he’s running a “shadow campaign” to replace Biden – was among the 20 Democratic governors who had a private meeting with Biden on Wednesday night at the White House for about an hour and a half. 

NEWSOM’S PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISM, DEBATE SKILLS AMONG VULNERABILITIES IN POTENTIAL NATIONAL CAMPAIGN: EXPERT

A growing number of major liberal outlets have urged Biden to bow out of his re-election bid following his presidential debate last week.  (Biden speaks at a rally in Virginia)

“It could have gone two or three hours,” Newsom said of the meeting. “And I mean this with absolute conviction. That was the Joe Biden I remember from two weeks ago. That was the Joe Biden that I remember from two years ago. That’s the Joe Biden that I’m looking forward to reelecting as president of the United States.”

“Things did not go as well as the campaign had hoped, and obviously did not go as well as President Biden had hoped.”

— Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif.

The aim of the meeting was to shore up support among the party’s top leaders and stave off diminishing confidence in Biden’s candidacy.

Among the Democratic governors who were planning to attend in person were Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, among others.

Newsom added he’s been “going wherever” he’s been asked by the administration, and doing “whatever task, large and small, because I believe in this man.”

DESANTIS VS NEWSOM FACE OFF ON ABORTION, TRANSGENDERISM, WOKENESS AND MORE

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

“I believe in his character,” he said.

The Golden State governor will also be headed to New Hampshire to headline a Democrat campaign event next week, fueling more speculation that he may be preparing to step in if Biden backs out of the 2024 race. 

New Hampshire is a key swing state in the general election and Newsom, who is a top surrogate for President Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign, will also be campaigning for the president and other Democrats up and down the ticket during his stop in the Granite State, according to sources familiar with his plans.

FETTERMAN HITS NEWSOM FOR NOT HAVING ‘GUTS’ TO ADMIT HE’S RUNNING SHADOW CAMPAIGN AGAINST BIDEN

Newsom insists he is not gunning to replace Biden. (Getty Images)

After Biden’s lackluster performance during the debate against Trump, Newsom assured reporters in the spin room that he remained firmly behind Biden — who has faced significant criticism even from members of his own party for a lackluster performance.

“I will never turn my back on President Biden,” Newsom said on Thursday in a comment that appeared designed to dispel rumors that he’s running a shadow campaign. “I don’t know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight, we have his back.”

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Newsom added: “I spent a lot of time with him. I know Joe Biden. I know what he’s accomplished in the last three and a half years. I know what he’s capable of. And I have no trepidations.”

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Leading up to last week’s first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, Biden’s mental acuity became the center of political discourse last month after a bombshell Washington Journal report – which the White House dismissed – revealed that many lawmakers on Capitol Hill had questions about Biden’s mental acuity after many said his aging was apparent in private meetings.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser and Bradford Betz contributed to this report. 

President Biden’s catastrophic performance at last week’s debate has sparked panic among the Democratic Party’s hierarchy, with key players said to be mulling how to get him to abandon his re-election bid.

The situation has plunged the party into crisis and threatens to drive a wedge between Biden loyalists and elected officials in swing districts ahead of next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 

Biden’s top campaign aides have been working damage control with major donors over the past week, while the White House — and Biden himself — remain adamant he is the right man to lead the party against former President Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee.

BIDEN RESISTS MOUNTING PRESSURE TO STEP ASIDE

President Biden’s debate performance has sparked panic among the party’s hierarchy with high-stakes discussions taking place about whether he should head the party’s ticket. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Democrats who say Biden should drop out

• Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas: “I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.”
• Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz.: “I’m going to support [Biden], but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere … What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility of keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.”
• Adam Frisch, candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District: “I thank President Biden for his years of service, but the path ahead requires a new generation of leadership to take our country forward.”

Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., on Wednesday became the second Capitol Hill Democrat to call on President Biden to exit the race. (Getty Images)

VAN JONES SAYS DEMOCRATS NOW PLANNING ON ‘HOW’ TO REPLACE BIDEN WITH HARRIS

Democrats who have raised concerns 

• Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.: “I think it’s a legitimate question to say, ‘Is this an episode or is this a condition?’ When people ask that question, it’s completely legitimate of both candidates.”
• Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez, D-Wash.: “About 50 million Americans tuned in and watched that debate. I was one of them for about five very painful minutes. We all saw what we saw, you can’t undo that, and the truth, I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump.”
• Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine: “In 2025, I believe Trump is going to be in the White House. Maine’s representatives will need to work with him when it benefits Mainers, hold him accountable when it does not and work independently across the aisle no matter what.”
• Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa.: “Maybe folks don’t want to hear, but we have timing that is running out. Time is not on our side. We have a few months to do a monumental task. It’s not cheap and it’s not easy. If our president decides this is not a pathway forward for him, we have to move very quickly. There’s not going to be time for a primary. That time is past. The vice president is the obvious choice. She’s sitting right there.”
• Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass: “I deeply respect President Biden and all the great things he has done for America, but I have grave concerns about his ability to defeat Donald Trump.”
• Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.: “I do know this: I think that the American people want an explanation; they need to be reassured, and I hope that over the next several days, we’ll do that.”
• Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill.: “I think we gotta be honest with ourselves, this wasn’t just one bad debate performance. There are very real concerns, and you have to take the voters for where they are, not where you want them to be.”
• Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.: “I really do criticize the campaign for a dismissive attitude towards people who are raising questions for discussion. That’s just facing the reality that we’re in.”
• Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.: “I think like a lot of people, I was pretty horrified by the debate… I think people want to make sure that this is a campaign that’s ready to go and win, that the president and his team are being candid with us about his condition — that this was a real anomaly and not just the way he is these days.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., expressed concerns about Biden’s health on MSNBC.

Democrats who support Biden as nominee

Twenty-three Democratic governors from across the nation descended on the White House on Wednesday evening to meet with the embattled president, but after the gathering, only Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke to reporters to express their support. 

Moore described the meeting with Biden as “honest” and “candid” and said that the governors were “going to have his back.”

Hochul said President Biden was “in it to win it” and that the trio had pledged their support to him “because the stakes could not be higher,” invoking on the eve of Independence Day, the fight against tyranny.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who many commentators have proposed as a possible Biden replacement, also took part in the White House meeting and backed the 81-year-old. 

“I heard three words from the President tonight — he’s all in. And so am I,” Newsom posted on X on Wednesday night. Newsom also publicly backed Biden immediately following the debate. 

“You don’t turn your back because of one performance,” Newsom said after the debate. “What kind of party does that? This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters after the presidential debate. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker has also publicly backed Biden, as has Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green. 

Elsewhere, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a longtime Biden ally, has also expressed his support, as well as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

“A setback is nothing more than a setup for a comeback,” Jeffries posted to X on Saturday.

Fox News’ Kyle Morris contributed to this report. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.

President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden – a convicted felon awaiting sentencing – has been closely advising his father to stay in the race, which may hurt the president’s ability to deride former President Donald Trump’s criminal record on the campaign trail. 

“All Americans should be highly concerned that at a time where international tensions are on the rise, particularly with the CCP, the Biden family bag man is now in the White House,” Mike Howell, the executive director of the Oversight Project at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital on Thursday. 

“Given that this administration appears to be on its last legs, I fear that a lot of requested favors from foreigners that have leverage over Biden are being considered while he still has power,” Howell said. 

WATCH: FOX NEWS DIGITAL FOCUS GROUP REACTS TO TRUMP SAYING HIS RETRIBUTION WILL BE SUCCESS

Joe Biden, left, and his son Hunter Biden. (Getty Images)

Hunter Biden was convicted last month on three felony charges relating to a handgun purchase in 2018.

And independent voters overwhelmingly approved of Trump’s description of Hunter Biden as “a convicted felon” during last week’s CNN Presidential Debate, according to Fox News Digital’s focus dial group, despite the former president’s recent criminal conviction in the Manhattan hush money trial case. 

“When [President Biden] talks about a convicted felon — his son is a convicted felon,” Trump said during the debate. “At a very high level, his son is convicted, gonna be convicted probably numerous other times, should have been convicted before.”

Approvals from Democrats trended downward during the answer. Meanwhile, Republican and independent approval continued to increase throughout Trump’s comments. 

CAN BIDEN BE REPLACED AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE?

Many prominent reporters and pundits were supportive of Hunter Biden this week after the first son was found guilty on all counts by a Delaware jury.  (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Amid the post-debate panic among the Democratic Party due to Biden’s lackluster performance against Trump, Biden’s family has huddled around him, with Hunter Biden emerging as a key advisor, according to a report from the New York Times. Hunter Biden was one of the strongest voices in imploring his father to stay in the presidential race during a family huddle at Camp David on Sunday, the Times reported.

HUNTER BIDEN HAS MAJOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AS TOP ADVISER TO THE MAN WHO COULD PARDON HIM

Former President Donald Trump holds a rally in the historically Democratic South Bronx on May 23, 2024, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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The president’s son was joined by First Lady Jill Biden in encouraging him to see things through to November, the report noted, while other family members such as a grandchild have expressed interest in trying to do more to help the campaign, with the grandchild suggesting they could reach out to influencers on social media.

“Hunter Biden wants Americans to see the version of his father that he knows – scrappy and in command of the facts – rather than the stumbling, aging president Americans saw on Thursday night,” the report said, noting that the president’s son has “long” been one of his most trusted advisers.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Lee contributed to this report. 

President Biden is seriously considering whether he can continue on as the Democratic presidential nominee, according to a report.

The New York Times on Wednesday reported that Biden has told a “key ally” that he knows he may not be able to win re-election if he cannot convince the American people he is fit to serve after his disastrous debate performance. 

“The president, who the ally emphasized is still deeply in the fight for re-election, understands that his next few appearances heading into the holiday weekend — including an interview scheduled for Friday with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News and campaign stops in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — must go well,” the report said. 

“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, the unnamed source told the Times. 

NEWSOM HEADS EAST FOR MEETING WITH BIDEN AS PRESIDENT TRIES TO KEEP HIS CAMPAIGN FROM HEADING SOUTH

President Biden speaks during a campaign event in Philadelphia on April 18. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Another top adviser to the president reportedly said Biden was “well aware of the political challenge he faces.” 

White House spokesman Andrew Bates disputed the report shortly after it was published.

“That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment, we would have told them so,” he told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

MAJORITY OF VOTERS FAVOR BIDEN DROPPING OUT WHILE TRUMP’S BASE ‘APPEARS MORE SOLID’: POLL

President Biden faces numerous calls to step aside from Democrats after his halting, low-energy performance at the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta on Thursday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Quentin Fulks, the principal deputy Biden campaign manager, likewise said on Wednesday the report was “false” during an appearance on CNN.

“There are a number of rumors floating out there. The president is in this race to win it. He is the Democratic nominee. And from our perspective, we are going to continue to do everything we can to make sure that we’re building a campaign apparatus, to reach voters,” Fulks said. 

Biden, who at age 81 is the oldest president in the nation’s history, is facing the roughest stretch of his bid for a second term in the White House. 

His halting delivery and stumbling answers at the CNN Presidential Debate on Thursday sparked widespread panic in the Democratic Party and spurred calls from political pundits, editorial writers and party donors for Biden to step aside as the party’s 2024 standard-bearer. In the past 24 hours, a small but growing number of elected Democrats have also urged the president to end his re-election bid.

MAJORITY OF VOTERS THINKS BIDEN IS COGNITIVELY UNFIT TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT: POLL

Congressional Democrats have warned that President Biden could lose to former President Trump in November, based on his poor debate performance. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Biden will meet with Democratic governors at the White House on Wednesday, just days after Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Chair Gov. Tim Walz led a conference call with the DGA to discuss the fallout from the debate. 

A number of the governors, including some who have been speculated as potential replacements on the extreme long-shot chance that Biden would step away from his re-election bid, have acknowledged the president’s debate performance was shaky but remained committed to supporting the president.

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A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll released this week found that more than 4 in 10 Democrats said the Democratic Party should intervene and replace Biden as the nominee. Overall, 54% of the voters polled were in favor of Biden dropping out.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser and Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.

A Democrat Senate primary candidate is selling tickets to comedian Dave Chappelle’s show in Detroit this month to raise money for his underdog campaign against Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.

In an event advertised on fundraising platform ActBlue, actor Hill Harper’s campaign invited donors to a live show on July 11. 

The Democrat candidate described Chappelle as an “old friend” in a statement to the Detroit News. 

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON BATTLEGROUND STATE DEMS AFTER BIDEN DEBATE DISASTER

Comedian Dave Chappelle, center, is performing a show for the benefit of Hill Harper, left, ahead of the U.S. Senate primary in Michigan against Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin. (Getty Images/File)

A representative for Chappelle told Fox News Digital that the show was just like any of the comedian’s other planned shows and Harper’s campaign had purchased a number of tickets to resell for his election effort, with Chappelle’s approval. 

Harper’s campaign was contacted by Fox News Digital.

A poster for the event says it is paid for by “Harper for Michigan” and the event is set to be at St. Andrews Hall.

“We are thrilled to extend an exclusive invitation to you for an unforgettable evening with comedy icon Dave Chappelle! Join us for a live show in Detroit on Thursday July 11th. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the show starts at 7:30 PM,” the invitation reads. 

GOP SENATE CANDIDATE TIES OPPONENT TO BIDEN DEBATE: BOB CASEY KNEW

Dave Chappelle (Mike Coppola/File)

Guests can buy tickets for as much as $3,300 for “Gold Circle + VIP Reception,” which allows them to attend an event after the show with Harper. The least expensive tickets for the event cost $250 for balcony seating.

Cellphones are restricted at the performance, which is common for Chappelle’s shows.

Slotkin, considered the front-runner in the Michigan Democrat primary, is a current House member who previously flipped a Republican district in the swing state. With the retirement of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., the state’s Senate race is rated “Lean Democratic” by nonpartisan political handicapper the Cook Political Report.

CONGRESSIONAL DEMS BLAST RULING ON TRUMP IMMUNITY: ‘EXTREME RIGHT-WING SUPREME COURT’

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. (Getty Images/File)

The Senate primary elections in Michigan will be held on Aug. 6.

On the Republican side, former Rep. Mike Rogers, businessman Sandy Pensler and former Rep. Justin Amash are competing for the party’s nomination. Rogers appears to have a significant edge over his opponents with the support of former President Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

TRUMP ALLIES CELEBRATE BLOW TO ‘SENSELESS LAWFARE’ IN SUPREME COURT IMMUNITY DECISION

Former President Trump listens as Senate candidate and former Rep. Mike Rogers speaks at a campaign rally in Freeland, Michigan, on May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Michigan is expected to play a pivotal role in deciding both the presidential election and which party will control the Senate in 2025. The state’s significant Arab population has posed an issue for some Democrats already, including President Biden, as many have expressed frustration over his handling of the war between Israel and terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.

Harper has seized on Slotkin’s reluctance to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, previously claiming she wouldn’t do so because of “checks.” 

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Chappelle has been vocal about the war in Gaza, reportedly calling it a “genocide” during a show in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last month.

Slotkin’s campaign did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

As calls for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race increase in the wake of last week’s presidential debate, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may be a top pick to replace him on the ticket, despite denying involvement in a “Draft Gretch” shadow campaign. But her chances against former President Donald Trump in November would be an uphill battle, according to one expert.

“She’s doing the right thing in terms of denying that she’s interested because she can’t appear to be disloyal,” said Tevi Troy, a former White House aide and deputy secretary of Health and Human Services under the Bush administration, in an interview with Fox News Digital.

“I had a politician friend of mine describe this to me as the Cinderella at the ball scenario. Everyone knows that the clock is running out and that at midnight everything changes, but at the same time, the prince is handsome, and the champagne is flowing, so you’re enjoying the dancing. But the smart people are kind of eyeing the door and making sure they’re positioned at the door while they’re dancing around midnight.”

NEWSOM’S PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISM, DEBATE SKILLS AMONG VULNERABILITIES IN POTENTIAL NATIONAL CAMPAIGN: EXPERT

President Biden, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, second from right, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., far right, attend the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Sept. 14, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Whitmer, who won re-election in 2022 by a double-digit margin, has previously hinted at interest in a presidential run and has reportedly vaulted to the top of the list in terms of donor preference in recent weeks.

Online supporters have been pushing a “Draft Gretch” message, and Politico reported after the debate that Whitmer spoke with Democratic Party leadership and disavowed that movement while disagreeing with reports that said she warned Biden has no chance of winning Michigan, calling it “total bulls—.”

“I am proud to support Joe Biden as our nominee and I am behind him 100 percent in the fight to defeat Donald Trump,” Whitmer said in a statement on Monday. “Not only do I believe Joe can win Michigan, I know he can because he’s got the receipts.”

NEWSOM TO HEADLINE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN EVENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE EVENT

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (AP Photo/Paul Sancya/File)

Her weakness, however, is that Whitmer is not particularly well-known among the average American as someone of prominence.

“She’s a popular governor in a swing state,” said Troy, who is also a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “So, she’s got a lot of positive qualities, but at the same time, she’s not truly vetted, and most of these people who could potentially face Trump or replace Biden are not fully vetted.”

Whitmer drew attention for her “heavy-handed” restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in her state, and she has also signed pro-LGBTQ+ legislation through implementing the state’s first LGBTQ+ Commission last year. She also repealed several of the state’s abortion restrictions, enshrining the right to the procedure in the state’s constitution.

“I think the biggest weakness is not any of the weaknesses we know but what we don’t know,” Troy said. 

That could change after the release of Whitmer’s book, “True Gretch,” next week.

BIDEN’S INNER CIRCLE SILENT AS PARTY REELS FOLLOWING ‘EMBARRASSING’ DEBATE PERFORMANCE

This image provided by Simon & Schuster shows the cover of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s book titled “True Gretch.”

Biden’s lackluster debate performance has also put the spotlight on Vice President Harris, who has started to show off a more visible campaign role as November approaches.

Harris suddenly figures to play a defining role in the campaign, a turnaround for a vice president who many critics have panned as a potential liability for Democrats in November.

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller and Michael Lee contributed to this report.

The congressman whose district is less than 100 miles from Cuba sounded the alarm after a bombshell investigation revealed several images of advanced spy bases in the communist nation.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said in a Wednesday interview there is no doubt China has a big hand in the construction and operation of the bases.

Gimenez elaborated after the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released the imagery while noting China’s official activity there “remain[s] shrouded in secrecy.”

Gimenez voiced counterintelligence concerns, noting his district alone houses the Key West Naval Air Station, Homestead Air Force Base and is within a mile of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

LAWMAKERS TORCH FEDS AFTER CUBA REGULATION ADJUSTMENT: LIFELINE TO GREATEST ENEMY IN OUR HEMISPHERE

This satellite image shows the Bejucal signals intelligence facility in Cuba. (CSIS/Hidden Reach/Maxar 2024)

“[This] is an example of the growing influence of China and Russia in our hemisphere,” Gimenez said.

“The Biden administration continues to placate our enemies in the hemisphere instead of trying to do what they can to get [nonviolent] regime change,” he said.

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., attributed Biden’s “weakness” to the proliferation of CCP influence offshore.

“America must respond with strength and tell the Cuban regime that we will not allow them to restart this new Cold War right on our doorstep,” Salazar said.

One or more of the sites mapped out by CSIS, Gimenez said, are less than 100 miles from his district. He said it is like having a spy base surveilling Miami from as close as the other end of Alligator Alley in Naples.

He slammed the White House for continuing Obama-era diplomatic “opening” toward Cuba’s totalitarian regime.

BLOODIED PRO-CUBA DEMONSTRATOR SLAMS BIDEN: CUBANS DON’T WANT VACCINES, THEY WANT FREEDOM

This satellite image shows the El Salao circularly disposed antenna array. (CSIS/Hidden Reach/Airbus DS 2024)

However, Gimenez added that some Democrats, particularly in Florida, are equally concerned about China’s malign influence in Cuba and the Diaz-Canel regime itself, naming Reps. Deborah Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz and Frederica Wilson.

He warned the Chinese could use the Cuban bases to observe offshore U.S. military training and simulation exercises. That would give China an inside look at how the U.S. would respond to an invasion of Taiwan, he said.

CSIS’ Hidden Reach researchers Matthew Funaiole, Aidan Powers-Riggs, Brian Hart, Henry Ziemer, Joseph Bermudez Jr., Ryan Berg and Christopher Hernandez-Roy warned of the proximity between the bases and the numerous sensitive U.S. installations in Florida and the southeast in their report.

The researchers on Monday revealed four sites believed to be supporting Chinese efforts to spy on the U.S. using signals intelligence (SIGINT). CSIS defines SIGINT as a “core” aspect of spycraft and a venue through which civilian and military entities can intercept others’ transmissions.

A top national security expert said China is expanding into places like Cuba to interfere in America’s sphere of influence.

“Communist China’s latest actions are unprecedented and to-date the Biden administration has made no response. It will fall to the next president to stand up for the security of the American people in our own hemisphere,” former Deputy National Security Adviser Victoria Coates said.

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This satellite image shows the Calabazar signals intelligence facility in Cuba. (CSIS/Hidden Reach/Maxar 2024)

Coates said China is also simultaneously interceding in America’s backyard through its new Bahamian embassy in Nassau and a Peruvian deepwater “mega-port.”

Gimenez, who is the only Cuban-born congressman, said he holds out hope the island rids itself of Chinese and Russian influence.

When asked how long it might take to see real change in Havana, Gimenez pointed to the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and how Germany quickly returned to a democracy.

If former President Trump returns to the White House in 2025, he said, the Republican’s past overtures toward the Cuba situation show change could be possible within his next term.

In turn, he faulted the Biden administration for repeatedly acting “counter to American interests.”

“This secretary of state is the worst secretary of state that we’ve had in American history. I think he’s done more damage in four years than just about anybody else that I can remember,” he said.

This satellite image shows the Wajay signals intelligence site in Cuba. (CSIS/Hidden Reach/Maxar 2024)

The State Department did not directly address Gimenez’ criticism of Blinken, but it cited remarks from spokesperson Vedant Patel on the bases themselves.

“I’m not going to comment on or confirm or get into the specifics of that report, but what I can say is that we remain confident that the United States is going to be able to meet our security commitments at home and in the region,” Patel said Tuesday.

“PRC activities in Cuba have been going on for decades, and … we know that the PRC is going to keep trying to enhance its presence in Cuba and the United States is going to keep working to disrupt it.”

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., a member of the Homeland Security Committee, echoed concerns over the White House’s handling of the China threat when asked about the photos.

“[China] will continue to expand their espionage of the United States without fear of consequence because they know Joe Biden will not hold them accountable,” Marshall said.

“Not only are they using Cuba to house Chinese ‘spy bases,’ they are sending in Chinese nationals through our southern border, shipping over lethal fentanyl, stealing our intellectual property, and purchasing land near our military bases.”

The office of Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines declined comment. The White House also did not respond.

Several Democrat lawmakers also did not respond to requests for comment.

Amid growing calls from some Democrats and liberals for President Biden to step aside after his disastrous debate performance last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been touted as a possible replacement, raising questions about how she would handle the border crisis.

Whitmer, as a governor of a swing state, has been named as someone who could step into the role of the 2024 presidential nominee for Democrats if Biden were to step down. Previous polling has suggested she would fare the best out of a number of candidates against former President Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Should she receive the nomination and win in November, she would step into a federal leadership role at a time when immigration policy and the ongoing crisis at the southern border are top issues for voters and for the country.

DO THESE POTENTIAL BIDEN REPLACEMENTS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT TRUMP?

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer attends a canvass kickoff in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Aug. 2, 2022. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Whitmer has been largely supportive of what President Biden has done in terms of immigration policy. When Biden announced additional restrictions on asylum last month, she issued a glowing statement approving of the move and saying that he is “delivering.”

“President Biden’s executive action will help secure our country’s border by making it easier for immigration officers to remove those who are here unlawfully, reducing the burden on our Border Patrol agents. Today’s announcement builds on the president’s work to deploy a record number of border agents and officers to the southern border,” she said. “The American people want real solutions, and President Biden is delivering today.”

Like other Democrats, she also backed Biden’s broader calls for a comprehensive immigration bill to fix what the administration has called a “broken” immigration system.

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That plan included sweeping reforms, additional visa pathways, extra funding and a pathway to U.S. citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants. It was rejected by Republicans in part due to the inclusion of an amnesty. Whitmer wants it passed.

“President Biden sent Congress a comprehensive immigration reform plan on day 1 and repeatedly requested more border resources from Congress, only to be blocked by Republicans,” she said last month. “They should stop playing political games and work with the administration on a coordinated, bipartisan federal solution to fix our broken system.”

Like Biden, she has also been deeply critical of former President Trump’s attitudes toward the border. She previously noted that she sent the National Guard to the border during Trump’s term in office, and she has blamed him for killing a separate bipartisan Senate deal to provide funding for the border.

HOW WOULD A PRESIDENT NEWSOM HANDLE BORDER, IMMIGRATION POLICY?

“He told the Republicans to walk away, and they did,” she said in April.

Migrants arrive at a makeshift camp after crossing the border from Mexico near Jacumba Hot Springs in San Diego on Feb. 23, 2024. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

In the state itself, she has given some indications that she may take a harder line on illegal immigration, certainly tougher than some activists would want.

She has provided multiple National Guard deployments to the border, both during the Trump administration and the Biden administration in support of Texas.

According to her office, she sent 175 personnel between 2020 and 2021, and 37 have been stationed since 2020. She also visited Michigan soldiers at the border in 2022.

BIDEN VOWS TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE, UNDETERRED BY DEMOCRAT PANIC AFTER DEBATE DISASTER

Unlike other potential Democrats, like Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom, she has taken a hard line against illegal immigrants receiving state benefits. In California, illegal immigrants are eligible for state Medicaid. But Whitmer has shown no sign of echoing that approach.

“If you are here illegally, I do not believe that you should have access,” Whitmer said in April, according to the Detroit Free Press.

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Whitmer has come under fire from some Republicans for a Newcomer Rental Subsidy program, which provides some immigrants up to $500 in rental assistance. However, it is aimed to help asylees, refugees and others who have valid immigration status in the U.S. and explicitly states that those in the country illegally are not eligible for the program.

A Honduran illegal immigrant has been charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Iowa, Fox News Digital has confirmed. 

It’s the latest instance of a crime allegedly committed by someone in the country illegally.

Junior Manuel Dubon Benitez, 18, was charged with sexual abuse in the second degree, according to Iowa court documents obtained by Fox. The incident allegedly happened in February and involved “sexual abuse upon Jane Doe, a 12-year-old child.”

The documents were first reported by the Washington Examiner, which reported that Benitez pleaded guilty in Iowa District Court in Black Hawk County May 14.

OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AREN’T UNDER FEDERAL SUPERVISION: ANALYSIS 

Migrants are processed by the U.S. Border Patrol near Jacumba Hot Springs after crossing the U.S.-Mexican border June 13, 2024, in San Diego. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Fox News Digital Dubon Benitez is a Honduran national who illegally entered via Hidalgo, Texas, in April 2022. ICE said it has issued a detainer with the prison, which is a request that, upon his release, he be turned over to the agency so it can place him in removal proceedings. 

The charges come amid an ongoing crisis at the southern border that has become one of the top political issues in the country, in part, due to a number of high-profile crimes allegedly committed by illegal immigrants.

Two Venezuelan illegal immigrants were charged last month with capital murder in the death of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston. Authorities said she was “lured” under a bridge in Houston before she was tied up and killed. 

The arrests came the same week as the arrest of an Ecuadorian national in the U.S. illegally for a broad daylight sex attack in which police said a machete-wielding man raped a 13-year-old girl at a New York City park. 

Police also announced that an illegal migrant from El Salvador had been arrested for the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five. The crimes are part of a broader wave of crimes across the U.S. committed by those in the country illegally.

BLUE STATE DEPLOYS OFFICIALS TO THE BORDER WITH SURPRISING WARNING FOR MIGRANTS

ICE agents conduct an enforcement operation in the U.S. interior June 2, 2022. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

The issue was highlighted in the presidential debate last week, with former President Trump blaming President Biden for the crimes.

“They’re killing our people in New York and California and every state in the union because we don’t have borders anymore. Every state is now a border,” Trump said. “And because of his ridiculous, insane and very stupid policies, people are coming in, and they’re killing our citizens at a level that we’ve never seen.

“We call it migrant crime. I call it Biden migrant crime. They’re killing our citizens at a level that we’ve never seen before.”

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Biden pushed back, accusing Trump of torpedoing bipartisan reform efforts for political purposes.

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“This bipartisan deal — more fentanyl machines to be able to detect drugs, more numbers of agents, more numbers of all the people at the border. And when we had that deal done, he went … he called his Republican colleagues, said, ‘Don’t do it. It’s going to hurt me politically.’ He never argued it’s not a good bill. It’s a really good bill.”