Former President Donald Trump provided a hilarious response to the prospect of running against Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday.

While on the golf course in Florida, Trump spoke about Biden’s debate apocalypse and the possibility that he could soon be exiting the race.

“How’d I do with the debate the other night?” Trump asked a small group of reporters and onlookers before referring to his rival as an “old, broken down pile of crap.”

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“He’s a bad guy. He just quit, you know, he’s quitting. He’s quitting the race,” the former president said. “Yup, I got him out of the race. And that means we have Kamala.”

Trump then predicted that Harris would make for an easier opponent than President Biden. “I think she’s gonna be better. She’s so bad, she’s so pathetic,” the presidential frontrunner said while adjusting his gloves. “She’s so fu***ng bad.”

“Could you imagine that guy dealing with Putin and the president of China, who’s a fierce person. He’s a fierce man,” Trump said in reference to Biden’s abilities.

“Now we have Kamala. She’s so f—king bad”

Trump is hilarious dude https://t.co/JRVIROzsUr pic.twitter.com/vxwfWNamRs

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) July 3, 2024

Trump’s insistence that Biden will indeed be dropping out of the race comes as several high-profile Democrat strategists, donors and elected officials are calling for exactly that.

Despite the pressure, President Biden has remained adamant that he is staying in after huddling with his family at Camp David last weekend. First Lady Jill Biden has attempted to shift blame to her husband’s advisors, namely veteran Democrat strategist Ron Klain.

Hunter Biden, 54, was also reportedly a major factor in convincing his father to stay in the race. Hunter has since been “popping into” White House meetings and inserting himself into conversations between his father and his advisors.

In a number of public and private statements, President Biden has stated that he has no intentions of dropping out. “Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running…no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win,” Biden said in a campaign phone call on Wednesday.

Top-rated conservative journalist Tucker Carlson announced Wednesday that he has booked a long-awaited interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Looks like we’ve got the Zelenskyy interview. We’ve been trying for two years, and with particular intensity after interviewing Putin in February,” Carlson announced in an X post.

“The point is to bring Americans much-needed information about the conflict that’s completely reshaping their country’s position in the world. Coming soon we hope.”

Earlier this year, Carlson conducted what was perhaps the most high-profile interview of his career when he sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The two discussed a number of topics, including U.S.-Russia relations and the War in Ukraine, while Putin delivered a nearly hour-long overview of the history of Russia.

“Two years into a war that’s reshaping the entire world, most Americans are not informed… But they should know,” Carlson said when announcing the interview.

“They are fawning pep sessions specifically designed to amplify Zelensky’s demand that the U.S. enter more deeply into a war in Eastern Europe and pay for it. That is not journalism. It is government propaganda. Propaganda of the ugliest kind, the kind that kills people.”

Carlson has long stated that he wants to interview Zelensky and get his take on the conflict.

“I heard some messages in media, and, also, my guys who are advisers, they said. So I don’t have to do — I don’t have time to hear more than two hours of bull**it about us, about the world, about the United States, about our relations, and this interview with a killer. So I have got some briefly what were there,” Zelensky said shortly after Carlson conducted his interview with Putin.

Despite the Ukrainian state’s often hostile stance towards Carlson and Americans who question their nation’s multi-billion dollar commitment to Ukraine, Zelensky appears set to give the long-awaited interview.

Tensions flared during Wednesday’s White House Press briefing as Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed pointed questions about President Joe Biden’s energy and alertness. The moment turned humorous when a reporter’s comment on the Biden’s wakefulness sparked backlash among the press corps.

During the press briefing, one reporter extended an invitation to Biden to come and answer questions personally.

Right after another reporter jumped in and joked, “if he’s awake!” The funny jab was then deemed “inappropriate” by other reporters, as well as Jean-Pierre.

This comes on the heels of Biden’s debate performance against former President Donald Trump last week—a performance that reignited discussions about his stamina. During the debate, Biden, 81, admitted to feeling fatigued, noting that he “almost fell asleep on stage.” His fatigue was attributed to his schedule that included trips to Europe which led his team to reduce his debate preparation by two days.

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“Biden was drained enough from the back-to-back trips to Europe that his team cut his planned debate preparation by two days so he could rest at his house in Delaware, before joining advisers at Camp David for rehearsals,” The New York Times reported on Tuesday. “The preparations, which took place over six days, never started before 11 a.m. and Mr. Biden was given time for an afternoon nap each day, according to a person familiar with the process.”

Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, clarified to the Times on Tuesday that Biden actively began his daily duties well before the scheduled 11 a.m. start, following his morning exercise routine. However, at a fundraiser later that evening, Biden candidly attributed his debate performance to exhaustion. “I wasn’t very smart,” he admitted. “I decided to travel around the world a couple of times, I don’t know how many time zones.” He further confessed, “I didn’t listen to my staff, and I came back and I fell asleep on the stage.”

“He had a hoarse voice,” Jean Pierre said of Biden on Wednesday. “Many of you reached out to me and my team and some other members of the White House asking what was going on. We confirmed that he had a cold.”

“So I think some of you here in this room can certainly relate to… what could happen when you’re having an important moment and you’re not feeling well; and also you wish you could have done better, and so he took ownership. I think that’s important.” She finished, “He’s going to continue to make a strong case for his agenda and that’s what you’re going to see. And he was given an explanation and that’s what he wanted to do.”

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Biden’s public appearances have raised concerns among… everyone. At an early Juneteenth celebration, he momentarily appeared to freeze up. Further unease arose during an immigration event on June 18, when Biden softly struggled to recall the name of his homeland security secretary. Despite these instances, White House officials have maintained that Biden is in excellent health. Biden’s aides have also enlisted several advisers to attest to their positive interactions with him.

Nonetheless, video footage and interviews suggest a noticeable change in his demeanor compared to his early days in office.  Meanwhile, Trump has criticized Biden’s debate performance. As Biden has aged, the White House has subtly reduced his direct engagements with the press, though he still occasionally stops to address a few questions.

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A veteran Democratic National Committee (DNC) member has publicly called for the replacement of President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. This comes after a notably poor debate performance by Biden, which has since spiraled into a contentious discussion within the party as well as the public.

James Zogby, who has served more than three decades on the DNC, revealed his concerns on CNN, saying that “in politics, two weeks, three weeks become a lifetime.” He proposed a rapid yet structured primary process leading up to the convention, suggesting that this could invigorate the party and potentially reshape the upcoming election dynamics. According to Zogby, the process would involve a limited field of candidates endorsed by at least 40 DNC members or delegates, leading to a series of town halls and culminating in a streamlined convention.

“It would be an exciting process, you all in the media would be covering it wall to wall from noon to one in the morning every day. It would be like the Kennedy election in 1960,” Zogby explained “Here’s the point. Instead of this happening, Joe Biden leaving later in the process toward the convention and handing it off to Kamala Harris, it would give her an opportunity to show her stuff in an engaged democratic process.”

The initiative has reportedly received mixed reactions within the DNC, with some members expressing their support while others await cues from the party leadership. Zogby acknowledged the uncertainty of his proposal’s reception by higher-ups but remained adamant about its necessity, framing it as a solution to multiple risks, including the fear of electoral chaos or a Trump victory.

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A significant faction within the Democratic Party is increasingly anxious about their electoral future and have been calling for drastic measures. Some party members worry that continuing with Biden might lead to electoral setbacks, especially given the charged political climate and the looming challenge from former President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, public and internal party surveys suggest a growing appetite for a fresh Democratic candidate who could more effectively counter Republican strategies and rejuvenate the party’s prospects in the 2024 election. The idea of a mini-primary and revamped nomination process appears to resonate with a segment of movable voters who might prefer an alternative to Biden, according to recent polls. That said, Biden has attributed his lackluster showing to fatigue from extensive travel, including trips to France and Italy.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic Congressman Lloyd Duggan of Texas are among those addressing concerns about Biden’s ability to serve, with Duggan publicly urging Biden to step aside. Democratic officials, donors, and allies are increasingly vocal about their doubts, with some advocating for a decision on Biden’s campaign this week. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other prominent Democrats have questioned whether Biden’s debate performance was an isolated incident or indicative of a broader issue.

The White House acknowledged that questions about Biden’s health are fair game, with reports of more frequent lapses in his speeches. New CNN polling shows 75% of voters believe Democrats have a better chance without Biden as the nominee. Biden’s allies suggest his recent explanation for the debate performance—blaming travel fatigue—might not be reassuring to voters.

During whirlwinds of rumors and intense media speculation about his future in the presidential race, President Joe Biden has set the record straight. Despite recent setbacks and mounting skepticism from various quarters, including a notably challenging debate performance, Biden’s resolve reportedly remains unshaken.

The origins of the turmoil can be traced back to a report by the New York Times, which suggested on Wednesday morning that Biden had expressed his doubts about the viability of his campaign following a disappointing debate showing. The article cited an anonymous ally who claimed to have spoken to the president shortly after the debate, revealing Biden’s concerns about his ability to rejuvenate his campaign.

“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, the ally said to the Times, referring to Biden’s disjointed showing in the debate. The report rapidly ignited speculation about the future of his candidacy. However, the White House and Biden’s reelection team were quick to counter these claim.

In a sharp rebuttal, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates criticized the New York Times for their reporting approach, stating, “That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment we would have told them so.”

On Wednesday amid turbulent waters, Biden himself spoke up. During a campaign call, he declared emphatically, “Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running…no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win,” according to Politico’s Elena Schneider.

President Biden on campaign call that just wrapped, per person on the call:

“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running…no one’s pushing me out. I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”

— Elena Schneider (@ec_schneider) July 3, 2024

The New York Times reported on Wednesday:

A top adviser to Mr. Biden, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation, said the president was “well aware of the political challenge he faces…”

Mr. Biden has been slow to personally reach out to key Democrats, which has fueled anger in the party and frustrated some of his own advisers. He called only Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic leader, on Tuesday night, five days after the debate, and still had not spoken with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, as of Wednesday morning. Key donors expressed exasperation that he did not join a campaign call on Monday meant to assuage them…

Key party donors have been privately calling House members, senators, super PACs, the Biden campaign and the White House to say that they think Mr. Biden should step down, according to Democrats familiar with the discussion.

Following the first presidential debate, the race for the White House has tilted towards Trump. A new CBS News poll released Wednesday morning revealed that Trump is now ahead of Biden, with a 2-point lead nationally at 50 percent to 48 percent, and a slightly larger 3-point advantage in battleground states at 51 percent to 48 percent.

Over 90% of supporters on both sides stated they would never consider switching their allegiance to the other candidate, a sentiment that was unchanged by the recent debate. Despite a temporary boost for Biden in June following Trump’s felony convictions in New York, the overall dynamics of the race were not significantly affected. Currently, the polling suggests a potential Electoral College advantage for Trump.

According to the poll, half of the voters who supported Biden in 2020 now believe he should not be running this year. This skepticism is dampening their enthusiasm for the upcoming election, making them less likely to vote and more inclined to support either Trump or a third-party candidate. On the other side, most Republicans are feeling energized following the debate, with many saying it has increased their likelihood of voting. Meanwhile, the independent vote remains a close contest, with Trump currently gaining a slight edge among this critical group.

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In the wake of a widely criticized debate performance by Joe Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci has stepped forward to offer a “reassuring” perspective on the President’s condition during the event. Despite a more than challenging evening and subsequent dip in polls for Democrats, Fauci claimed that there was nothing medically alarming about Biden’s appearance or behavior during the debate.

Fauci, who has been a central figure in public health across multiple administrations, addressed concerns raised by Biden’s performance. “Did you see the debate? Did anything about that, what you saw medically alarm you?” Fauci was asked during a CBS interview.

Fauci, however, responded with caution, “When you’re just looking at someone on a one-shot basis, you just don’t know what could happen. Did he have a bad cold? You know, did he take an antihistamine to make him… groggy or what have you. We don’t know what went on. I think it would be unfair and inappropriate to try and diagnose something from just a 90-minute clip. It just looked like a bad night.”

Further defending the President, Fauci added, “he’s very reflective on things and just doesn’t jump out with conclusions or anything, but is very analytic, so my interactions with him, I have to say, have been very, very positive.”

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BREAKING – YOUR REACTION: Doctor Anthony Fauci says he watched the debate, and he can say that President Biden had a bad night; nothing was alarming that he saw, his interactions with him have been very positive, President Biden was very calm and probing. WATCH pic.twitter.com/ESFvqyHqa6

— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) July 3, 2024

The polls taken after the debate depicted a discouraging scenario for the Democrats, with many viewing Biden’s performance as lackluster compared to Trump’s more aggressive approach. This has ignited discussions within the party about the need for Biden to significantly step up his game to reassure his base and swing voters of his capabilities.

On Wednesday Biden offered his clearest indication yet that he is seriously weighing whether to suspend his campaign for president, a report by the New York Times that prompted a fresh round of hysteria among Democrats who are growing increasingly afraid of a November wipeout.

With each day closing the window for Democrats to find an alternate presidential nominee, Biden told a key ally that he will soon be forced to decide whether he fully commits to completing his campaign or stepping aside so that another candidate may take his place. The ally, speaking on background with the Times, said that much can change in the days ahead, including depending on how the 81-year-old president performs in an upcoming interview he is slated to do with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. He will appear in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for campaign stops this weekend, as well.

“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, the ally said in reference to Biden’s halting and shaky debate performance where he struggled to issue forceful rebukes of claims by former President Donald Trump. His vacant stare and gaping mouth launched a slew of memes in the days that followed and left his campaign on the defense as his team attempts to assure top donors and party leaders that he stands the best chance to defeat Trump.

Shortly after the Times article was published Wednesday morning, Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, declared the story “absolutely false.” As the election approaches, the Democratic Party and its supporters are likely to scrutinize Biden’s future public appearances and debates closely.

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