U.S. President Joe Biden spoke today, Wednesday, with a coherent tone during his address at the NATO summit opening in Washington, while all eyes were on him amid calls from within his party to withdraw from the presidential race due to his health condition. In a powerful speech, despite rumors about his health, the U.S. President insisted that the alliance is "stronger than ever."
Biden emphasized his increasing support for Ukraine, including air defense systems, during the welcoming of NATO members at the Washington summit, marking the 75th anniversary of the alliance's establishment. British Sky News correspondent Mark Stone stated that Biden's speech commemorating NATO's 75th anniversary was "an emphatic reaffirmation of the coalition's strength."
However, Biden’s performance during the summit speech was under scrutiny, as he faced immense pressure in recent days to prove his ability to remain in the Oval Office following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. According to Stone, "The American leader appeared well," speaking with the aid of a teleprompter. He added, "I am sure his team will be very pleased at this important moment for him."
At the same time, the White House hoped that the President could put an end to rumors about his health after his lackluster debate performance. Biden was working to convince American voters, donors, and the Democratic Party that he is ready for re-election. The President dismissed calls to step down in his race against Trump, vowing to defeat him.