Trump says he doesn’t expect Biden to drop out of the race in first interview post debate: Live updates

Donald Trump said that he did not expect Joe Biden to drop out of the race for the White House despite growing calls for him to do so, blasting the president and his “ego”.

Speaking to Fox News in his first interview since his now-infamous debate with Joe Biden on June 27, Trump said that he was “prepared” to face Biden in November, but that it “wasn’t going to matter. “They cover for him, and they still are sort of covering, but now it’s getting very difficult to do that,” he told Hannity.

“I think Jill [Biden] would like to see him stay, she’s having a good time. I noticed she seems to be having a good time, and I’m hearing that Hunter is calling the shots.”

It comes as Biden remained defiant that he will remain in the race for the White House after more members of the party added their voices to calls for him to step aside on Sunday – an unwelcome distraction as the president prepares to host a major Nato summit in Washington, DC this week.

The president doubled down on that in a call to MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Monday morning after spending the weekend on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania.

Key Points

• Biden refuses to exit race in letter to Congress: ‘Voters have spoken’

• More Democrats call for Biden to step aside from 2024 race in private ‘crisis talks’

• Fifth House Democrat calls publicly for president to drop out

• Schiff says Harris would be a ‘phenomenal’ president

Who are the 11 House Democrats who say Biden needs to step aside?

04:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Despite attempting to dig himself out of the political crisis that has engulfed him since his debate debacle, Joe Biden appears to become more entrenched with every swipe of the shovel.

Eleven House Democrats – five publicly, six privately – have so far called on the president to drop out of the race for the White House.

At least 18 current and former senior party members have publicly raised doubts over whether the 81-year-old could defeat Donald Trump come November due to his perceived cognitive decline.

James Liddell looks at the list.

The eleven House Democrats who say Biden needs to step aside

White House shoots down Parkinson’s speculation with explanation of specialist doctor visits

03:18 , Mike Bedigan

The former US Army doctor with a specialty in movement disorders who has visited the White House multiple times did so to conduct neurological exams on President Biden as part of his annual physical, Physician to the President Dr Kevin O’Connor has said.

Read the full story here:

White House shoots down Parkinson’s speculation with explanation of doctor visits

Trump predicts Kamala Harris would take over from Biden if he stood aside

02:44 , Graeme Massie

“Well, I think that it will be her. I think they are very concerned about the vote. If it’s not her, they are very, very, I mean, they’re gun shy. They don’t want to do it any other way.

“She didn’t do a good job, and she hasn’t done a job on a lot of things so but it would seem to me that from a political standpoint, that’s who they’re going with. They’re not even talking about alternatives. And it seems that if, if he gets out for whatever reason, and I don’t think he wants to get out, but if he gets out, it will be her.

“Interestingly, he’s got a lot of power, because he’s got the delegates. You know, when you have the delegates, unless he says, I’m getting out, they can’t do anything to get him out, other than the 25th amendment.

“Would be the 25th amendment, but let’s assume, with not very much time left, you know, there’s not much time left, and then we can straighten out our country…But there’s not a lot of time left. But I think unless they use the 25th Amendment, which they’d use in a different sense, he has all the power. He has the delegates. He doesn’t have to get out. There’s nothing they can do to get him out. So he’ll get the nomination.”

Trump says he is ‘prepared’ to face Biden

02:39 , Graeme Massie

“Well, we prepared for him, but I don’t think it’s going to matter,” said Trump before listing off his supposed successes during his time in office.

Trump describes ‘strange’ debate with Biden

02:38 , Graeme Massie

“It was a strange evening. I will tell you it was a strange debate, because within a couple of minutes, the answers given by him were they didn’t they, they didn’t make a lot of sense,” Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News.

“And I don’t know, maybe it was a good makeup job, or maybe it wasn’t, but he was a very pale looking man, and when he started to speak, I don’t know, I thought his voice was weak

Trump told Hannity that he could not really understand what Biden was saying.

“They weren’t even answers. They were just words put together that had no meaning, or sense. But for the most part, I didn’t really look over.”

Trump claims there will ‘100%’ be a terrorist attack in US

02:34 , Graeme Massie

Trump praised CNN debate hosts

02:33 , Graeme Massie

Biden says ‘voters have spoken’ and refuses to consider standing down

02:30 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden is attempting to head off calls for him to step aside with a defiant letter to congressional Democrats, in which he says exiting the race would be an affront to democracy.

Biden’s missive, which he released publicly on his X account on Monday ahead of Congress’s return to Washington, opens with a declaration that he is “firmly committed” to remaining a candidate in this year’s presidential election and to “running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump”.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House.

Biden refuses to stand down in letter to Congress: ‘Voters have spoken’

Trump claims Hunter Biden is ‘calling the shots’

02:27 , Mike Bedigan

Speaking to Fox News, Donald Trump claimed Hunter Biden was “calling the shots,” and those around the president were “covering for him”.

In an interview on Monday, the former president was asked about how he would feel about the possibility of Biden dropping out of the presidential race.

“Well, we prepared for him, but I don’t think it’s going to matter,” he told Fox News’ Hannity.

“They cover for him, and they still are sort of covering, but now it’s getting very difficult to do that. And you know, it looks to me like he may very well, and he doesn’t want to quit. He doesn’t want to do that.

“I think Jill [Biden] would like to see him stay she’s having a good time. I noticed she seems to be having a good time, and I I’m hearing that Hunter is calling the shots.

“So this isn’t necessarily a very positive thing for our country, but I think he might very well stay in… you really have to speak to his doctors. But obviously he’s been sheltered by the fake news media.”

Biden doctor’s letter published

02:23 , Mike Bedigan

On Monday night the White House published a note from Joe Biden’s physician, doctor Kevin O’Connor.

The note shared details from a long-time neurological consultant to the White House, Dr Kevin Cannard.

It reiterated the White House’s previous statements that following the president’s most recent physical exam, there were “no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological.”

This included conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s, the letter added.

Watch: ‘Challenge me at the convention’

02:00 , Oliver O’Connell

ICYMI: Several top House Democrats call for Biden to step aside

01:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Several influential House Democrats joined a growing list of party members calling on Joe Biden to step aside and let someone else run in 2024 in a weekend crisis call, according to reports.

The House Democratic caucus convened for crisis talks with Hakeem Jeffries, the chamber’s minority leader, late Sunday afternoon as lawmakers prepare to face the media on Capitol Hill when Congress returns to business the next day.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Several top Democrats call for Biden to step aside in weekend ‘crisis talks’

Watch: ‘I beat him last time. I will beat him this time’

01:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Schiff says Kamala would be ‘phenomenal’ president

Tuesday 9 July 2024 00:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic Representative Adam Schiff has said that Vice President Kamala Harris would be a “phenomenal” president and could “overwhelmingly” beat Donald Trump in the 2024 race – as he revealed which of Joe Biden’s comments he was most “concerned” by in the president’s make-or-break ABC News interview.

Read more…

Schiff says Kamala would be ‘phenomenal’ president as he slams Biden interview answer

Republicans drop abortion limits from platform — after seeing it being used against GOP candidates

Tuesday 9 July 2024 00:00 , Oliver O’Connell

The Republican National Committee will drop abortion limits from its current platform as the party conforms to the whims of former President Donald Trump.

While Trump has been concerned about the political impact that the issue may have on Republicans, the platform change is a move that anti-abortion activists have been arguing against.

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Republicans drop abortion limits from its platform

Monday 8 July 2024 23:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden’s stumbles have Schumer and Jeffries walking a tight rope

Monday 8 July 2024 23:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Garcia writes:

More than 15 years ago, the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid defiantly said, “I don’t work for Barack Obama. I work with him.” Blunt as that may be, Reid explained something few people understand about politics: Even if members of Congress share a party with the president, they are not his employees. They are his partners, and sometimes, their interests may diverge.

Now, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are living that lesson, as President Joe Biden faces mounting calls from congressional Democrats to step aside in favor of a potentially more viable candidate in the 2024 election.

Continue reading…

Biden’s stumbles have Schumer, Jeffries walking tight rope over Dems split on future

New poll: Biden narrows Trump’s lead in key swing states despite debate fallout

Monday 8 July 2024 22:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Joe Biden has narrowed Donald Trump’s lead in crucial swing states including Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina in spite of his disastrous debate performance fallout, according to a new poll.

In the new Morning Consult and Bloomberg survey, Trump holds only a three-point lead over Biden in Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina and a one-point lead over Biden in Georgia.

The former president holds a more significant lead over Biden in Pennslyvania.

Ariana Baio reports.

Biden narrows Trump’s lead in swing states despite debate fallout, new poll finds

Monday 8 July 2024 22:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Monday 8 July 2024 22:15 , Oliver O’Connell

All the celebrities who have called for Joe Biden to step down

Monday 8 July 2024 22:00 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden continues to lose crucial support from his colleagues, big-name celebrities and donors.

Last month, Biden’s shaky performance at the first presidential debate against the Republican nominee, former president Donald Trump, led to questions about his capability to run for reelection.

Despite several major voices urging Biden to step aside, the incumbent president is insistent about his ability to run and win again.

Inga Parkel reports.

Celebrities who’ve called for Joe Biden to step down, from Stephen King to Rob Reiner

Trump thanks RNC rules committee for approving GOP platform

Monday 8 July 2024 21:57 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump writes:

The 2024 GOP Platform to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN was overwhelmingly approved by the Rules Committee – Thank you to Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn and Vice Chair Michael Waltz for their tireless work to PUT AMERICA FIRST. Ours is a forward-looking Agenda with strong promises that we will accomplish very quickly when we win the White House and Republican Majorities in the House and Senate. We are, quite simply, the Party of Common Sense! America needs determined Republican Leadership at every level of Government to address the core threats to our very survival: Our disastrously Open Border, our weakened Economy, Inflation, crippling restrictions on American Energy Production, our depleted Military, attacks on the American System of Justice, the Weaponization of Politics, and much more….

….To make clear our commitment, we offer to the American People our plan to restore our Country to Greatness – It will be approved next week at the GOP Convention. The Forgotten Men and Women of this Country will be forgotten no longer. MAGA!

DNC says Trump desperate to distance himself from Project 2025

Monday 8 July 2024 21:52 , Oliver O’Connell

DNC national press secretary Emilia Rowland released the following statement:

“Trump is so desperate to distance himself from Project 2025 as the American people are grappling with the terrifying truth about his second term agenda that he and his team overhauled the Republican platform process to keep the public and the press in the dark, all caps-ed 20 bullet points behind closed doors, and blasted it out to divert attention from his real plans: a national abortion ban, handouts for his billionaire donors on the backs of middle-class Americans, cuts to Medicare and Social Security, and to be a dictator on “day one.” The reality is that Trump literally put architects of Project 2025 in charge of the Republican platform, and the result is not only the most extreme platform in GOP history but one containing lie after lie after lie. The American people know that Trump wants a nationwide abortion ban and they know the only thing standing in the way of Trump’s terrifying second term agenda is reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris in November.”

Here’s what you need to know about Project 2025, from Alex Woodward:

Trump distances himself from Project 2025 while his PAC pushes ads promoting it

Nato Summit: Keir Starmer to face first international test as he meets Biden

Monday 8 July 2024 21:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Keir Starmer will face his first international test just days after becoming prime minister as he meets President Joe Biden and other world leaders at the Nato summit in Washington.

The Labour leader will try to reassure the nuclear alliance of his party’s “unshakeable” support under his leadership.

Kate Devlin reports from London.

Starmer to face first international test as he meets Biden and other leaders at Nato

NATO allies not concerned by questions over Biden’s capacity, says White House

Monday 8 July 2024 21:33 , Oliver O’Connell

With world leaders converging on Washington for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s annual summit, the White House’s top national security spokesperson isn’t aware of any concerns among NATO members regarding President Biden’s capacity to serve amid questions over his performance at last month’s presidential debate.

National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby denied that Biden’s condition is even a topic of conversation among NATO members when pressed on the matter on the eve of the alliance’s yearly gathering — one that will mark three-quarters of a century since the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty — during a briefing with White House reporters on Monday.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

White House says NATO allies not concerned by questions over Biden’s capacity

Rep Smith says Biden should step aside

Monday 8 July 2024 21:29 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic Washington congressman Adam Smith calls on President Biden to “step aside” during an interview on CNN on Monday afternoon.

“I think it’s become clear that he’s not the best person to carry the Democratic message. … It hasn’t gotten better since the debate.”

Smith had shared his reservations about Biden privately over the weekend, before going public today.

Thompson throws support behind Biden

Monday 8 July 2024 21:27 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrat Mississippi Rep Bennie Thompson, who chaired the January 6 select committee, has made it clear that he is backing Joe Biden.

Biden to meet with Congressional Black Caucus

Monday 8 July 2024 21:18 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Jill Biden asks reporters why they are screaming at her

Monday 8 July 2024 21:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats pitch ‘blitz primary’ to replace Biden — with a little help from big name celebrities…

Monday 8 July 2024 21:05 , Oliver O’Connell

As Joe Biden struggles to convince his fellow Democrats that he remains the right man to take on Donald Trump in November following his disastrous debate performance in Atlanta last month, two party insiders have proposed a novel “blitz primary” process for choosing his successor.

Rosa Brooks and Ted Dintersmith, a Georgetown University law professor and venture capitalist respectively, began circulating a memo to wealthy party donors and members of the Biden administration and campaign on July 2 in which they outline their plan for replacing the 81-year-old president as the Democratic nominee.

Joe Sommerlad reports on their scheme.

Dems pitch ‘blitz primary’ to replace Biden with help from Taylor Swift and Oprah

White House denies Biden has Parkinson’s

Monday 8 July 2024 20:57 , Oliver O’Connell

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre flatly denied that President Joe Biden is being treated for or has been diagnosed with the neurological disorder Parkinson’s Disease after reporters pressed her on why a specialist with expertise in the disease has visited the White House on multiple occasions.

“Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No,” she said after a heated back-and-forth with reporters over why Dr Kevin Cannard, a former military officer who is a medical doctor with expertise in neurological and movement disorders, visited the White House Medical Unit’s clinic once a month from last July through this past March.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House.

White House denies Biden has Parkinson’s amid questions over physician’s visits

Jason Miller: Trump will have VP picked out by Monday

Monday 8 July 2024 20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump adviser Jason Miller tells Fox News that Donald Trump will have his running mate picked out by this time next week.

Watch below:

Watch: John Kirby says Biden debate performance not reflective of leader he knows

Monday 8 July 2024 20:26 , Oliver O’Connell

Schumer: ‘I’m for Joe’

Monday 8 July 2024 20:17 , Oliver O’Connell

Monday 8 July 2024 20:06 , Oliver O’Connell

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the president has a “check-in” with his doctor a couple of times a week while he is exercising. She adds that he had such a check-in today.

Regarding reports that neurologist and specialist in Parkinson’s Disease, Dr Kevin Cannard visited the White House a reported eight times from Walter Reed Medical Center, the press secretary would not be led on any further information citing security reasons.

Jean-Pierre said that the president does not have Parkinson’s and does not take medication for it.

Rob Reiner urges Biden ‘to step down’ in unexpected statement

Monday 8 July 2024 20:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Joe Biden has lost crucial support in the form of Hollywood star – and Democratic donor – Rob Reiner, who has urged him to step down from his presidential re-election bid.

On Sunday (7 July), the director of films including Stand by Me, This is Spinal Tap and When Harry Met Sally shared his unexpected and candid view on the party leader, whose capability has been thrown into question in recent months.

Jacob Stolworthy has the story.

Joe Biden loses crucial support from big Hollywood director donor

Kirby says he has seen no reason to doubt Biden lucidity

Monday 8 July 2024 19:58 , Oliver O’Connell

The White House’s John Kirby was asked about Joe Biden’s mental capability at the press briefing and said that the debate performance of the president was “not reflective of the man, and the leader, and the commander in chief’

He added: “In my experience — the last two and a half years — I have not seen any reason whatsoever to question or doubt his lucidity, his grasp of context, his probing nature, and the degree to which he is completely in charge of facts and figures.”

‘Uneasiness’ permeates White House as Biden enters critical week

Monday 8 July 2024 19:45 , Oliver O’Connell

There’s a general sense of “uneasiness” spreading through President Joe Biden’s White House as the future of his re-election campaign enters a critical week.

Biden’s terrible debate performance in Atlanta on June 27, when he appeared frail with a raspy voice and made several blunders as he lost his train of thought, has set off a crisis within the Democratic Party as senior elected officials call for the president to step aside.

Many in the White House are now in a somber mood and struggling with anxiety and unease regarding whether Biden, 81, will carry on with his campaign for another four year-term, according to CNN.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

‘Uneasiness’ permeates White House as Biden enters critical week

‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor pleads guilty to interfering with police during Capitol riot

Monday 8 July 2024 19:30 , Oliver O’Connell

An actor who played a street-brawling newsman in the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and a pizzeria owner in the television series Bob’s Burgers pleaded guilty on Monday to interfering with police officers trying to protect the US Capitol from a mob’s attack.

Jay Johnston, 55, of Los Angeles, faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison after pleading guilty to civil disorder, a felony. US District Judge Carl Nichols is scheduled to sentence Johnston on October 7.

Read on…

‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor pleads guilty to interfering with police during Capitol riot

Full story: House GOP postpone hearing with Manhattan prosecutors on Trump’s hush money trial

Monday 8 July 2024 19:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Manhattan prosecutors will not be testifying this week in front of a House Republican-controlled committee investigating what they believe is the “weaponization” of federal law enforcement against Donald Trump and his allies.

New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo were set to be grilled by House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan and other GOP lawmakers on July 12, the day after Trump was scheduled to be sentenced for 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Alex Woodward was following the trial for The Independent and filed this report:

House GOP postpones hearing with Manhattan DA on Trump’s hush money trial