Biden's former press secretary Jen Psaki makes shocking admission about his ABC interview as Joe, 81, is warned time is 'running out' for stepping down decision

4 months ago 21

By Wills Robinson For Dailymail.com

Published: 12:52 BST, 8 July 2024 | Updated: 12:56 BST, 8 July 2024

President Joe Biden's future as in the 2024 race could be decided this week as Democrats return to Washington for the first time since his disastrous debate sparked calls for him to step aside.

The 81-year-old's party faces the brutal questions of whether he is up for the job and whether he is capable of beating Donald Trump in November.

Four more House Democrats called on Biden to leave the race over the weekend while others said time is running out for the president to make his case that he is the right man for the job.

Meanwhile Jill Biden and Kamala Harris - who would likely be the candidate if Joe drops out - are campaigning and mounting a furious defense.

Follow all the developments from our reporters in Washington and around the country in DailyMail.com's U.S. politics blog.

Biden's former press secretary Jen Psaki: His ABC interview 'went just okay'

Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World at 92NY on May 08, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden's former press secretary Jen Psaki admitted on Sunday that his ABC interview may not have done enough to shut down calls for him to step down.

She opened her show on MSNBC by saying:

I would say it went just okay for the president. In many ways, people watching saw what they wanted to see, because for some, he looks better than he did at the debate. He did. He was more clear. He seemed much better prepared to make his case against Trump. There were also some moments — not just one — that did not go well.

Psaki added that Biden seemed 'in denial' about his position in the polls against rival Donald Trump.

When the interview ended, it left us all in this sort of purgatory for the moment. It was better than the debate, not a home run at all. Even if it was a home run, one interview definitely doesn’t have the capacity to change the perception out there of 72 percent of voters, according to a CBS poll, who do not believe that Biden has the mental or cognitive health to serve. Even the White House and the campaign know that

She also suggested that the panic within the Democratic Party isn't dying down any time soon.

The questions I know I’m getting from text messages from friends, from family are twofold: What’s going to happen and what is the best path forward?. And I’m not going to sit here this afternoon and tell you I know the answer to either question.

The White House's major Kamala Harris bungle as Democrats struggle to find a viable alternative to Biden, 81, amid calls for the ailing president to step down

The White House has made a major error with Vice President Kamala Harris as Democrats struggle to find an alternative for President Joe Biden following his abysmal debate performance.

Several Democrats - including Rep. James Clyburn, of South Carolina, and Sen. Laphonza Butler, of California - have suggested that the 59-year-old vice president is best suited to take on Trump in the general election if Biden agrees to step down.

Tim Ryan, a former congressman from Ohio, has even called on the 81-year-old commander-in-chief to 'rip the Bandaid off' and promote Harris immediately.

But in the four years since Biden took office, his administration has done very little to promote Harris and properly prepare her to lead the United States, according to The Atlantic.

That failure comes despite the president vowing to stand aside for a new generation of Democratic leaders.

Top Democrat: 'Time is running out' for Biden

A top Democrat who has called for President Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 race has said the deadline for the decision is coming very soon.

Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois told Politico's Playbook on Sunday night:

'People have to act. This isn’t a time for contemplation. Time is running out for this process to work effectively, and, frankly, it’s time for tough love.'

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who hasn't called for Biden to drop out, says Joe needs to prove to the country he is capable of doing the job.

He told CNN's State of the Union over the weekend:

I think the president needs to do more. I’m not advising this campaign, but if I were, I would probably suggest that the president get out there and do a town hall, and do a press conference — show the country that he is still the old Joe Biden, one of the best retail politicians this country has ever seen.

The president says he can do that. I trust that he can. I think this week is going to be really critical for him to answer those remaining questions.

Biden's staff give him detailed instructions with pictures and large font that tell him how to 'enter and exit a room' during planned events

President Joe Biden is given detailed instructions with pictures and large font instructing him on how to entry venues ahead of planned events, it has emerged.

A template provided to event staffers, and obtained by Axios, shows how Biden's aides prepare a short document with a photograph that depicts his precise 'walk to the podium'.

The template also reportedly included memos that showed the 'view from podium' and 'view from audience', which were also accompanied by photographs.

The White House has claimed the short memos are 'basic approaches' that are critical to Biden's 'advance work' as president, adding that the same approached is also used by Vice President Kamala Harris' team.

But some event staff have said they were 'surprised' by the memos and do not think a 'seasoned political pro' should need verbal and visual guidance on 'how to enter and exit a room'.