‘No holds barred’: Trump’s Biden demand
After a debate that sent shockwaves around the world just one week ago, Donald Trump has made a huge demand of Joe Biden.
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After a debate that sent shockwaves around the world just one week ago, Donald Trump has demanded the sitting president to a “man-to-man”, moderator-free debate “this week”.
Mr Trump has hit the campaign trail once again and threw down the challenge to President Biden from Florida.
“Let’s do another debate this week so that sleepy Joe Biden can prove to everyone all over the world that he has what it takes to be president,” Mr Trump said.
He also challenged Mr Biden to an 18-hole golf match at his Doral golf course, vowing to donate $1 million to a charity of the US President’s choosing if he won.
“[The golf match] will be among the most-watched sporting events in history,” the former president told the crowd.
“I bet you he doesn’t take the offer.”
‘Sadness’ at critical Biden meeting
Eyebrows have been raised after a senior White House official said President Biden would hold a “big boy” press conference during a vital week for his campaign.
The comments were taken out of context, but nonetheless have led to a flood of not very kind memes online about Biden being a “big boy”.
The unfortunate description came ahead of a critical meeting of key members of President Biden’s Democratic Party, that could determine whether he remains in the presidential race, was filled with “sadness” it has been reported.
Democratic members of the House or Representatives, equivalent to Australian MPs, met on Tuesday in Washington DC in an attempt to find a consensus on Mr Biden following his disappointing performance in his debate against Mr Trump.
By all accounts, the Congress men and women seem as divided as to whether they stick with Mr Biden or take a gamble on someone else as the party candidate for November’s election.
One senior House Democrat said merely “let’s see” when asked about Mr Biden’s viability
Mr Biden has bullishly said “only the Lord Almighty” will stop him from running.
Mr Trump retorted that Mr Biden’s “ego” means he won’t quit the race.
It is a crucial week for Mr Biden with the annual summit of the NATO military alliance taking place in DC.
In seemingly a move to prove his dynamism, the President has a packed schedule. His every move, meeting and speech will be under scrutiny from his party, the media and US allies across the globe.
Most top Democrats have so far publicly rallied behind Biden.
‘Big Boy’ Biden
On Monday, ahead of the NATO summit, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby made the “big boy” comment.
“President Biden will hold a press conference – a ‘big boy’ press conference, according to Justin Sink from (news website) Bloomberg”.
He was referring to a comment made by the Bloomberg’s Sink last week asking whether an upcoming face-to-face with media was “going to be kind of the real, big boy press conference …”
It was a comment that made White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre laugh who then called the journalist “Big Boy Justin” and said he was asking “big boy questions”.
On Tuesday, Mr Kirby then brought the throwaway comment back up and repeated it a further three times.
But despite that fact it was a repeat of someone else’s remark, and taken out of context, some online have had a field day.
Right wing pundits have uploaded the clip but edited out the reference to the Bloomberg journalist. While memes have appeared of his image on the front of a nappies pack.
Sense of ‘Sadness
Leader of the Democratic minority in the US House, Hakeem Jeffries, convened Tuesday’s party meeting. A separate meeting of Democratic Party senators was also held.
If members of Congress peel away from Mr Biden, 81, it could be fatal to his desperate efforts to remain on the ballot.
One member said there was a sense of “sadness” when asked by CNN to explain the mood in the Democratic meeting.
The sadness comes from “talking about someone you love who is in obvious decline,” the unnamed politician said.
‘Ridin’ with Biden’
There remain deep concerns about whether Mr Biden can do enough to persuade voters he is fit to lead for the next four years and if he can beat Mr Trump in November’s election.
Nonetheless, Mr Biden looks to have shorn up some support in the Democratic caucus. It’s not clear if it will be enough.
He will be pleased by at least one Congressman appearing to walk back his criticism.
On Sunday, Jerry Nadler reportedly opposed Mr Biden remaining as the Democratic nominee.
But on Tuesday, he said it was clear Mr Biden would be on the ticket.
“He’s got an excellent record, one of the most excellent presidents of the last century, Trump would be an absolute disaster for democracy.
“So, I’m enthusiastically supporting Biden,” Mr Nadler said, reported Fox News.
Another politician and close ally of Mr Biden, Jim Clyburn said the atmosphere in the meeting was “very positive”.
“I’m ridin’ with Biden,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wouldn’t elaborate after his meeting with fellow senators.
As I said before, I’m with Joe,” he told reporters.
‘He has to step down’
Around 30 Democrats spoke at the Representatives’ meeting which some said was a “listening session”.
But others, appear to be more circumspect.
At a news conference following it, party caucus chairman Pete Aguilar said he and fellow Democrats would be keenly watching the President over the coming days to judge his ability.
“Let’s see. Let’s see the press conference. Let’s see the campaign stops. Let’s see all of this because all of it is going to be necessary,” he said.
“He just has to step down,” Democrat Mike Quigley told CNN on the way into Tuesday’s meeting.
“The fighting spirit and pride and courage that served the country so well four years ago, helped Joe Biden win, will bring the ticket down this time.”
Mr Jeffries said the talking wasn’t over.
“We had a caucus meeting today that gave members an opportunity to express themselves in a candid and comprehensive fashion.
“And those discussions will continue throughout the balance of the week,” he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
Several House Democrats have refused to say if they support Mr Biden remaining as nominee.
Trump intervenes
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson accused the Democrats of lying to voters about President Biden’s condition throughout his time in the White House.
“They’ve been saying things I think most of them understand is simply not true. And they’ve misled the American people. And this is dangerous,” Mr Johnson said.
Mr Trump has been uncharacteristically restrained since the debate and had let the damaging Democratic drama play out unhindered by his intervention.
But on Monday, he told Fox News that he thought Biden would resist the pressure and stay in the race.
“He’s got an ego and he doesn’t want to quit,” the 78-year-old former president said.
Mr Biden will address fellow NATO leaders on Wednesday morning, Australia time, in a speech closely watched both domestically and by international allies.
On Thursday, he will hold a rare news conference during the NATO summit.
It will be his first since the debate two weeks previously which has sent his campaign into a tailspin.
Originally published as ‘No holds barred’: Trump’s Biden demand
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