President Joe Biden issued a stark warning on Monday, cautioning that a Supreme Court ruling granting presidents broad immunity from prosecution could embolden former President Donald Trump to act without restraint if he regains the White House in the upcoming November election. This statement comes as Biden faces intense pressure following a widely criticized debate performance against Trump last week.
Biden urged Americans to carefully consider their election choices, emphasizing that he has no plans to withdraw from the race. He criticized the Supreme Court’s conservative majority for a decision that effectively ensures Trump will not face trial in Washington before the November election for his actions during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Biden stated that it is now up to the American people to render judgment on Trump’s behavior, as the courts have failed to do so.
In an effort to reset his campaign after the debate, which unsettled donors and heightened Democratic anxiety, Biden has been focusing on Trump’s misdeeds and shortcomings. During his brief remarks on Monday, he did not address the debate or his performance and refrained from taking questions, delivering a politically charged message from the White House.
Biden appeared relaxed and confident, contrasting sharply with his halting debate performance, where he appeared pale and occasionally lost his train of thought. The president benefited from a teleprompter during his remarks about the court, a tool he lacked during the debate.
Within Biden’s camp, there have been private discussions about how to counteract the negative impressions from the debate. These talks have included whether Biden should increase his public appearances through town-hall events, interviews, and press conferences, which he has generally avoided during his presidency. However, most of his advisers are waiting for more substantial polling data to assess the damage before making any significant changes.
Biden’s team may ultimately decide not to alter their strategy. Many within his orbit believe the current crisis will pass, especially after Biden’s family encouraged him to stay in the race during a huddle at Camp David. Campaign officials have stated that Biden will continue campaigning as he has been, focusing on battleground states. An ad released on Monday featured clips from Biden’s post-debate rally in North Carolina, emphasizing resilience with the message, “When you get knocked down, you get back up.”
Quentin Fulks, Biden’s principal deputy campaign manager, emphasized Trump’s threat in a call with reporters, stating, “When you do see President Biden out on the trail, he will be talking about the reasons why Americans should be scared of Donald Trump, as he has been for months.”
Even before the debate, Biden’s age had been a concern for voters, and the debate brought this issue to the forefront. Over 51 million people watched the debate, according to CNN. Jennifer Palmieri, a former White House communications director, noted that while Biden’s age was already a factor, the campaign has responded by promoting his strong speech in North Carolina and continuing to post strong fundraising numbers. Palmieri suggested that Biden should participate in more interviews to demonstrate that the debate was an anomaly.
There is a sense that voters will now scrutinize Biden more closely to determine if his debate performance was a one-time occurrence or indicative of his capability to perform the job. Alan Kessler, a lawyer and member of Biden’s national finance team, has been reassuring donors about Biden’s fitness, stating that he has personally witnessed the president being “lucid, strong as he’s always been.”
Biden has expressed interest in doing at least one interview. At a fundraiser in East Hampton, New York, he mentioned his positive experience with broadcaster Howard Stern and indicated a willingness to return for another interview.
Meanwhile, senior Biden campaign officials have been conducting damage control, holding a call with roughly 500 members of the campaign’s National Finance Committee and other donors. They downplayed any potential fallout from the debate, blamed the media for concerns over Biden’s popularity, and reiterated that Biden was fit to serve. However, the call did little to alleviate concerns among many backers.
Campaign officials have stated that there has been no discussion of Biden exiting the race or any staff shakeups following the debate. The Democratic National Committee has announced that it will use a virtual roll call to formally nominate Biden before the convention begins in Chicago on August 19.
As Biden and Trump prepare for their next debate, the stakes remain high. Both candidates will need to prove their capabilities to the American public. Biden must demonstrate that he is not too old for the job, while Trump must show that he is not the unlikable figure many perceive him to be. The upcoming debates will be crucial in shaping voter perceptions and could significantly impact the trajectory of the election.
Source: Associated Press, BBC
