Trump Also Predicts Biden Will Complete the Race
Amid mounting calls for his resignation, U.S. President Joe Biden is only 40% likely to forgo his bid for re-election this November, according to a Wall Street investment bank's assessment. His rival, former President Donald Trump, also predicted that "he has a strong pride" and would complete the presidential race.
Brian Gardner, Washington chief policy strategist at investment firm Stifel, appeared on CNBC's Fast Money on the 8th (local time) and stated, "His (Biden's) chances of staying are 60%, which is greater than the possibility of not staying."
Gardner said, "President Biden likes to prove that the smart talents of the Democratic Party are wrong," adding, "The more the 'elites' push for him to withdraw, the more stubborn and resilient he will be." He also assessed that Democratic Party members urging Biden to resign can persuade him but cannot force him to step down as a candidate, diagnosing that they "lack influence."
The 'elites' Gardner referred to are the party insiders whom President Biden calls those pressuring him not to run in the election. Biden, who is striving to dispel calls for his withdrawal, said on the same day, "Ordinary voters want me to stay in the presidential race, but I am frustrated because of the party 'elites,'" and challenged, "Try running against me."
On the same day, former President Trump, who has been nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, also viewed Biden's resignation possibility as low. In an interview with Fox News, he said about his rival Biden, "He has a strong pride and does not want to quit. He does not want to do that."
Trump added, "Interestingly, (Biden) already has secured delegates, so he has a lot of power," and said, "Unless he directly says 'I will quit,' the Democrats can do nothing except invoke the 25th Amendment."
The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows the vice president and cabinet members to declare the incumbent president unable to perform duties, after which the vice president can assume presidential powers. However, it is considered unlikely that Vice President Kamala Harris and senior Democratic officials will invoke the 25th Amendment.
President Biden, nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate, has faced fierce calls for resignation within and outside the Democratic Party after suffering a crushing defeat to former President Trump in the first TV debate held last month. During that debate, Biden stuttered and used imprecise sentences, fueling controversies over his age and cognitive decline. To date, many Democratic figures, including six incumbent lawmakers, have questioned his ability to perform duties due to his advanced age and demanded his withdrawal from the candidacy, but Biden has strongly expressed his intention to complete the presidential race.
Accordingly, this week, when the U.S. Congress resumes its schedule after the Independence Day (July 4) holiday, is expected to be a turning point. Stifel also defined this week as a "Make or break week." As lawmakers return to Congress, discussions about Biden's resignation within and outside the Democratic Party are expected to intensify. A full House Democratic caucus meeting is scheduled for the morning of the 9th. Senators will also attend their regular luncheon meeting that day.
The Washington Post (WP) recently reported that while President Biden strongly expresses his intention to complete the presidential race and is preventing mass resignation demands, "there is still divided opinion on whether Biden is the best choice to defeat former President Trump in the upcoming November election." The Democratic Party must officially nominate its presidential candidate by the end of this month.
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