‘We have Kamala’: Trump claims Biden ‘just quit’

Donald Trump has claimed in leaked video that Joe Biden has “quit” the presidential race and “we have Kamala”.

Donald Trump has claimed in leaked video that Joe Biden has “quit” the presidential race and “we have Kamala”.

In video obtained by The Daily Beast, the former President is seen sitting in a golf cart chatting to supporters, delivering a brutal assessment of the 81-year-old’s performance in last week’s debate.

It wasn’t immediately clear exactly where or when the video was taken.

“How did I do with the debate the other night?” Mr Trump asks, before launching into a spray against his rival.

“Look at that old, broken-down pile of crap,” he says.

“He’s a bad guy. He just quit, you know? He’s quitting the race. I got him out … and that means we have Kamala.”

Mr Trump, 77, says he thinks the Vice President “is going to be better” as a presidential rival, before delivering another series of insults.

“She’s so bad,” he says. “She’s so pathetic. She’s so f**king bad.”

Donald Trump speaking to supporters in leaked video. Picture: The Daily Beast

He then turns back to Mr Biden, who was reported on Wednesday to be “weighing” up whether or not to drop out of the race amid growing concerns about his age and mental capacity.

“Can you imagine that guy dealing with Putin?” Mr Trump says.

“And the President of China — who’s a fierce person. He’s a fierce man, very tough guy. And they see him.”

He concludes just before driving off, “But they just announced he’s probably quitting. Just keep knocking him out, huh?”

Reached for comment on the video by The Daily Beast, the Trump campaign pointed to a statement issued earlier on Wednesday.

“Every Democrat who is calling on Crooked Joe Biden to quit was once a supporter of Biden and his failed policies that lead to extreme inflation, an open border, and chaos at home and abroad,” the statement said.

Vice President Kamala Harris. Picture: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP

“Make no mistake that Democrats, the mainstream media, and the swamp colluded to hide the truth from the American public — Joe Biden is weak, failed, dishonest, and not fit for the White House. 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 added that Mr Trump “will beat any Democrat on November 5th because he has a proven record and an agenda to Make America Great Again”.

Mr Biden has told a key ally that he concedes he may not be able to salvage his candidacy and has just days to prove he has the ability to lead, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

It’s possible he may no longer be the Democratic candidate by the end of the weekend.

But the White House has vigorously denied the report. “He is staying in the race,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

Joe Biden is reportedly considering dropping out. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

In the coming days, Mr Biden will hold a series of make-or-break meetings with senior Democrats including Vice President Harris, will do a major TV interview, and hold campaign rallies in critical states.

It’s all to try and turn the tide following his shambolic performance during his debate with Mr Trump last week.

But turmoil appears to have engulfed the White House. One news source has reported that, “everyone is freaking the f**k out”.

Media reports in the US have suggested as many as 25 Democratic members of Congress are ready to call on the President to drop out of the race.

“He has to be honest with himself,” Democratic Representative Mike Quigley of Illinois told CNN on Tuesday.

“It’s his decision. I just want him to appreciate at this time just how much it impacts, not just his race, but all the other races coming in November.”

Leaked internal polling earlier this week suggested Democrats are on track for an election bloodbath after Mr Biden’s support in key battleground states plummeted following the disastrous debate.

The polling, which also tested a number of possible Democratic replacements in a hypothetical match-up against Mr Trump, showed Ms Harris with a slightly higher favourability rating than Mr Biden at 41 per cent to 38 per cent, and a lower unfavorability rating at 52 per cent to 60 per cent.

— with Benedict Brook

Originally published as ‘We have Kamala’: Trump claims Biden ‘just quit’