Jill Biden Rejects Resignation Talk: "Can't End Biden Foundation with 90-Minute Debate... Will Keep Fighting"

"We will keep fighting." Dr. Jill Biden, wife of U.S. President Joe Biden, firmly dismissed the calls for President Biden's withdrawal as a candidate following his first TV debate defeat. The Democratic leadership also collectively moved to quell the 'candidate replacement theory.'

Image source: Vogue

According to fashion magazine Vogue on the 1st (local time), Dr. Biden, who became the cover model for the August issue, said in a phone call on the 30th of last month regarding the recent pressure for President Biden to resign, "A 90-minute debate will not let him (Joe Biden) judge the four years he has served as president." She added, "President Biden will always do good things for the country."

This statement came as part of an interview conducted for Vogue's August cover story featuring Dr. Biden. It was right after President Biden was widely regarded as having suffered a virtual defeat in the first TV debate against the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, on the 27th of last month. Vogue reported that the call took place during the weekend when the Biden family gathered at Camp David right after the TV debate, stating, "Jill Biden is the president's closest friend and supporter no matter what happens until the November election."

In particular, local media have evaluated that President Biden's camp used Dr. Jill Biden's Vogue interview as a channel to deliver a politically delicate 'no withdrawal' message at a sensitive time. The title on the Vogue cover reads, "Our Future is What We Decide." The Washington Post (WP) editorial analyzed, "The timing of the cover is perfect," and "(The cover title) is clearly intended as a declaration of power through unity." Dr. Jill Biden emphasized President Biden's achievements, including infrastructure investment, while reiterating her determination to protect democracy, saying, "We no longer want chaos."

Earlier, in the first TV debate with former President Trump ahead of the November election, President Biden stammered and used inaccurate sentences, failing to continue the debate properly. This reignited concerns about President Biden's age, and even Democratic-supporting media urged him to make a decision through editorials, leading to pressure for his withdrawal. A poll conducted after the debate showed that 7 out of 10 Americans believed he should resign.

Amid this, the interview with Dr. Jill Biden released that day suggests the Biden family's strong determination to continue their presidential bid. The Biden family is well known for holding family meetings whenever making important political decisions such as running for president or seeking re-election. Accordingly, local media have analyzed that First Lady Jill Biden holds the final decision-making authority regarding candidate withdrawal. The New York Times (NYT) also reported the previous day, citing sources, that the Biden family gathered at Camp David and urged that they must stay in the presidential race and keep fighting. It was also reported that during this meeting, plans were discussed for President Biden's grandchildren to take a leading role in the campaign through interviews on social media platforms.

Former President Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and other prominent Democrats also expressed their support for President Biden and defended him. Former Speaker Pelosi dismissed the TV debate defeat, saying, "There is no problem at all." Democratic leadership, including House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also drew a line against demands for President Biden's withdrawal, arguing that reckless attempts to shake the candidate at this time would only benefit the Republicans.

However, questions about President Biden's fundamental competitiveness continue, and there are views that the candidate replacement theory could be reignited at any time. Political media outlet Politico predicted that among those concerned about a Republican landslide in the congressional elections held alongside the November presidential election, the candidate replacement theory could emerge at any moment. Business Insider reported, "It does not seem likely that the president will step down," but added, "Since the Democratic National Convention officially nominating the Democratic candidate is in August, there is still time for a major overhaul."