Defiant Joe Biden throws down gauntlet to Democrats

The US President dares Democrat critics to either challenge him at next month’s party convention in Chicago or back him against Donald Trump in November’s vote.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre calls for ‘respect’ while journalists challenged her refusal to confirm reports that a Parkinson’s specialist visited the White House eight times. Picture: AFP

President Joe Biden insisted again overnight on Monday he would not quit the US election race, as the White House denied he had Parkinson’s disease following a disastrous debate performance.

The 81-year-old dared Democratic Party critics to either challenge him at next month’s party convention in Chicago or back him against Donald Trump in November’s vote.

The President lashed out in both a letter to congress and a rare call to a television program, at the beginning of a critical week that includes a NATO summit in Washington where he will face fresh scrutiny. “I am firmly committed to staying in the race,” Mr Biden wrote. “It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party and defeat Donald Trump. It’s time for it to end.”

The embattled President followed up by phoning into MSNBC’s Morning Joe television program to say he was “getting so frustrated by the elites” in the party.

“Any of these guys that don’t think I should run – run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention,” Mr Biden said.

But even as he doubled down, the pressure mounted on the oldest president in US history.

Congressman Adam Smith, the senior Democrat on the US House of Representatives armed services committee, became the sixth Democrat legislator to publicly say Mr Biden should step aside. “I think it’s become clear he’s not the best person to carry the Democratic message,” Mr Smith told CNN.

However, other senior Democrats voiced support for Mr Biden. “I made clear that day after the debate publicly that I support President Joe Biden and the Democratic ticket. My position has not changed,” House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN.

Mr Biden’s blitz was a clear attempt to lay to rest the spiralling concerns over his health following the June 27 debate against Mr Trump, whom he trails in the polls.

During the debate Mr Biden repeatedly lost his train of thought, stared blankly and spoke at times incoherently and with a raspy voice. The Biden family and campaign team blamed jetlag and a cold.

The White House has also felt the pressure, with tense exchanges at a press briefing on Monday. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called for “respect” while journalists challenged her refusal to confirm reports that a Parkinson’s specialist visited the White House eight times.

The visits by Kevin Cannard, a neurologist from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, where Mr Biden receives his medicals, were recorded in publicly available visitor logs.

“Has the President been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No,” Ms Jean-Pierre said.

The White House also denied reports that NATO allies attending this week’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington had shown concerns about Mr Biden.

“We’re not picking up any signs of that from our allies at all,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

But NATO leaders have been seeking reassurance in any case amid polls forecasting a November victory for Mr Trump.

The former president has long criticised the defence alliance, voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and insisted he could bring about a quick end to the war in Ukraine.

The NATO summit begins overnight on Tuesday, the same day Democrats, returning to Capitol Hill from a brief recess, hold a caucus meeting at which Mr Biden’s fate will be discussed.

The President lags behind Mr Trump in most polls even though his Republican rival was recently convicted of a felony in a porn star hush money case.

Efforts to force Mr Biden to quit the race will not be easy.

First Lady Jill Biden has fiercely defended her husband, and did so again on Monday at the start of a trip to Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. “For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” she said at a veterans event in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Numerous allies have also weighed in. Congressional Black Caucus head Steven Horsford said on Monday that Mr Biden had been “selected by millions of voters across this country”.

“It’s fascism or freedom, that’s it,” Illinois representative Jan Schakowsky said as she voiced her support. “(Mr Biden) delivered, he will deliver, he still is delivering right now. So I just think this is very distracting right now.”

AFP