Biden's press conference

See also: power-brokers against Biden

Biden's press conference began an hour late (and two hours after its originally scheduled time), at about 7:30pm on July 11, 2024, and lasted 59 minutes. The live television audience was more than 23 million people, which exceeded the audience for the Oscars.

With a slurred speech but also with far better make-up for television than he had in the June 27 debate, Biden's opening statement lasted about 8 minutes with these main points:

• Biden praised NATO, with a focus on its Article V
• Biden praised today's decrease in reported inflation (without saying it was due to an unusual drop in gasoline prices), and criticized Trump's proposed new tariffs
• border security - lower illegal alien problem than when Trump left, according to Biden
• Gaza peace agreed to by all parties

Biden said nothing in his opening about the calls from his own Democrat Party for him to quit. Then Biden called on a pre-approved list of reporters from ten news organizations for questions, many of which were senselessly repetitive and easy to answer. Many were sharply critical afterward of the softball questions that had obvious uninformative answers.

1. Jeff Mason, Reuters: calls for Biden to quit. Biden's response includes an egregious gaffe: he referred to Vice President Trump when he meant Harris. Biden thinks he's the most qualified to run for president. Biden's additional comments:

• He beat [Trump] once and will beat him again, Biden says.
• His numbers are better than some incumbents.
• Long way to go in this campaign.
• We've made so much progress.
• Created over 800,000 manufacturing jobs.
• Corporate greed is still large.

2. Danny Kemp, Agence France Presse (AFP): Mixed up presidents Zelensky and Putin today. ... Damaging for America in the world. Biden's response: incredibly successful [NATO] conference. Find me a leader who says otherwise.

3. Nancy Codes, CBS: Not your enemies calling on you [to quit], but your friends. Have you thought about the effect on your legacy? Biden's response: I'm in this to complete the job that I started. 16 economic Nobel Prize laureates say we've done a helluva job. Determined to stop trickle-down economic theory. Implement as a president what I believed as a senator, build out from the middle and bottom up. More to do. When unions do better, everybody does better. [Only] 40% of semiconductors are made in the US, even though we invented it, so the Biden Administration has put $50 billion into this industry. When the middle class does well, everyone does well.

Follow-up: VP Harris would be able to serve on day 1? Biden's response: Harris handles issue of women's bodies. She's qualified to be president.

4. Felicia Schwartz, Financial Times. The presidency is a demanding job. How can you be up to this in 1 year, or 2 years? Biden's response: my schedule has been full boar. What's Trump doing? Riding around on his golf cart, filling out his scorecard? Like in sports, keep going without stopping. Catching hell from my wife.

5. Zeke Miller, Associated Press (AP). Will you be lifting limits on Ukraine's use of American weapons? Also, how can you reassure the American people there won't be more bad nights [like the debate night]? Biden's response: Would it make sense to strike Moscow [with American weapons]? No, it would not. Biden had to ask what the second question was. Biden's response: Am I getting the job done? Passed more legislation than others have as president. Created 2,000 jobs this past week.

6. Marek Walurski, Polskie Radio. There is concern in Europe that Trump may weaken NATO or push Ukraine to give up territory to settle, and that Europe will be left on their own. What's your advice to European leaders to prepare for possible disengagement [by the US]? Biden's response: European allies are not saying don't run, but are saying that he has to win. Trump seems to have an affinity with people who are authoritarian. That worries Europe. That worries Poland. Biden's specific statement was, “Foreign policy has never been his strong point and [Trump] seems to have an affinity to people who are authoritarian. That worries Europe, that worries Poland, and nobody, including the people of Poland, think if (Putin) wins in Ukraine, he’s going to stop in Ukraine.” [When Biden became president] no one was talking about Finland joining NATO. Finland then sought to be admitted to NATO. Then the Swedes tried to call me [Biden]. Odd pause where Biden heard something in the audience and seemed confused by it. Then Biden continued speaking. Expanded [NATO] with Sweden. Got 50 other countries to support Ukraine, including Japan and South Korea.

7. David Sanger, New York Times. Would you like to interrupt the relationship between China and Russia? Could you negotiate with Putin one-on-one in a few years? Biden's response: I've spent more time with Xi Jinping than anyone else has. ... We need more industrial capacity in the West, to build our own weapons capacity. It came as a surprise that we (the West) had fallen behind in being able to produce our own weapons systems. Dealing with Xi now, but have no good reason to talk to Putin now. But there isn't any world leader that Biden's not ready to speak with. Putin's not willing to change his behavior [yet]. ... If we allow Russia to succeed in Ukraine, Putin's not stopping with Ukraine. The last time Biden spoke with Putin was concerning a possible arms control agreement that did not go very far. Biden is talking to China, but not to Russia.

8. Asma Khalid, NPR. Would you [Biden] have changed anything about his handling of Israel and Palestinians? Also, in 2020 you [Biden] said you were a "bridge" candidate. What changed? Biden's response: Regarding Israel, Biden says it was (initially) uncooperative and that the Israeli War Cabinet is very conservative. Biden sought a path to a two-state solution. Bidend wanted no occupation by Israel in Gaza and the Gaza Strip, and Biden was disappointed in the failure to obtain that from the Israel War Cabinet. Biden was opposed to the occupation of Afghanistan and he asked Israel not to make the same mistake we did. Instead, find the bad guys rather than occupy [the territory]. Biden has not provided 2000-pound weapons to Isreal for use in civilian populations. A lot of things in retrospect [Biden] wishes he had been able to persuade the Israelis to do. Growing dissatisfaction among the Palestinians about Hamas. Biden seeks a cease-fire. Biden's numbers in Israel are a lot better than here, Biden said. As to being a "bridge" candidate, Biden says what changed was the gravity of the situation he received [from Trump]. Most presidential historians give Biden credit for getting major pieces of legislation passed. Biden wants to finish it. Biden then trailed off incoherently.

9. Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg. Is Biden fully determined to run as the nominee? Biden's response: He's running, but feels it is important to allay fears. 20 major events [done by Biden]. Demonstrating that he's going out in areas where he thinks we can win. Well over 1000 volunteers knocking on doors, etc. Scores of headquarters in all the toss-up states. Awfully hard to replace. Was in the Senate a long time. I'm going to Johnson Library soon. Can't afford to lose or backslide on women's rights. "Control guns, not girls!" More children are killed by a bullet than any other cause of death. Biden flies into a loud rage on the gun control issue. This is ridiculous. So much we can do still, and I'm determined to get this done. Biden rambles on. Do you think our democracy is under siege? Biden asked sarcastically about a Heritage Foundation project for the next Trump Administration, Project 2025?? We've got to finish this stuff because there is so much at stake.

Follow-up question: Are you open to taking a cognitive exam before the election, or a physical? Biden's response: he has taken 3 intense neurological exams. Biden says he's tested every single day. The only thing that age does is create some wisdom. Hasn't hidden a thing (stumbled on the word "hidden"). If doctors think he should have a neurological exam, he will.

10. Haley Bull, Scripps News. Has Biden not closed the door for Ukraine using US weapons inside Russia? Also, are [Democratic National Convention] delegates free to vote their conscience at the convention [for any nominee]? Biden's response: If delegates want someone else, that's the democratic process. Not going to happen. Biden then rambles about Delaware. The presidential campaign hasn't started in earnest yet, and usually doesn't until September. Polling data now is not reliable. I believe I'm the best qualified to govern, and the best qualified to win. Money raised, not doing bad. $220M raised.

Follow-up question: if data shows that VP Harris could win (or do better than Biden), would he step aside? Biden's response: No. He would only step aside unless the evidence is that: "No way you can win." No one is saying that. No polls are staying that.

Shouted question at the end, by an NBC reporter: Trump is already using Biden's gaffe where he referred to VP Trump early in the press conference, when he meant VP Harris. Biden's response: "listen to Trump," and Biden uncontrollably laughed as he walked off with his slow, hobbling gait.

This press conference ended around 8:30pm, and its total length was 59 minutes.

CNN post-conference analysis: initially continued with its negative spin, and the black commentators are again more sympathetic to Biden than the white commentators are. One black commentator praised Biden afterward, while a white commentator said this conference is unlikely to change the mostly downward trajectory.

Some felt that Biden was not as combative or as defiant and seemed hopeful that he might quit, although that appears to be wishful thinking by those who oppose him as the nominee.

Apparently preplanned as part of daily anti-Biden statements coordinated by power-brokers against Biden, Rep. Jim Himes, ranking Dem on the Intelligent Committee, released a statement immediately after the press conference calling for Biden to quit.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), who is not warmonger Dem, praised Biden profusely after this press conference, on CNN. As Cohen candidly stated or implied, his district has a much larger black population than the northeastern congressmen like Jim Himes who have more elitist districts.

See also

• AP detailed analysis as it happened
• CNN summary