Axios reported, citing senior Democrats, that increasing pressure from party leaders in Congress and close friends will convince U.S. President Joe Biden to make the decision to withdraw from the presidential race as early as this week. It noted that the 81-year-old president, who is currently isolating due to COVID-19, is still publicly maintaining his position. However, behind the scenes, he has succumbed to mounting pressure, poor poll numbers, and indefensible scrutiny that make it impossible to continue his campaign.
Axios clarified that major leaders of his party, friends, and key donors believe he cannot win, cannot change public perceptions of his age and intelligence, and cannot secure a majority in Congress. The president is being told that if he remains in office, former President Trump could win by a landslide and erase Biden's legacy and the hopes of Democrats in November. Consequently, the pressure to step aside has reached unbearable levels, particularly in the past few days.
In this context, Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper noted that Biden is not the same as he was four years ago. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed that President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 after attending an event in Nevada, stating he will isolate at his home in Delaware but continue to perform all duties fully during the isolation period.
As a result, Biden's speech scheduled for Wednesday before over 1,500 activists and leaders at the annual "United for the United States" conference in Nevada, a crucial state in the upcoming November election, was canceled. This health issue coincides with the Republican National Convention, which lasted for three days (July 15-18, 2024) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, discussing the party's vision for the election battle, following the momentum that surrounded Trump after his assassination attempt on the 13th of the month.