Biden Delivers Remarks After NATO Summit to Assuage Voters

This week's political headlines focused on the question of whether U.S. President Joe Biden will remain in the race for the White House.

The president tried to quell the urging of many in his party to step aside by addressing the media on Thursday evening.

Here is the latest on the Biden situation and what else is happening on the campaign trail this week.

Biden Addresses Media in Attempt to Allay Fears

President Biden spoke to reporters on Thursday evening from Washington, D.C. to officially address the conclusion of the NATO Summit.

However, the underlying theme of the media address was an attempt to assuage fears of his chances for reelection. The president made a few missteps during the address, notably referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as Vice President Trump.

The president struck a stern and commanding tone when discussing the U.S. commitment to Ukraine and NATO.

Throughout the press conference, the president answered in-depth questions about issues surrounding China, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, and the domestic economy.

Biden was clear that he plans to remain in the race, however, he admitted that he needed to make a case to those who have lost confidence in him.

Latest List of Lawmakers Urging Biden to Step Aside

The list of lawmakers urging Biden to step aside grows longer with each day. As of Thursday evening, 16 Democrats serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and one Senate Democrat have called on Biden to leave the race so that another candidate can be appointed.

Lloyd Doggett of Texas was the first representative to urge Biden to step aside, starting the avalanche on July 2.

More recently, seven representatives added their names to the list of House Democrats asking the president to withdraw his name on Thursday.

This included Michigan's Hillary Scholten, Illinois' Brad Schneider, Hawaii's Ed Case, and Arizona's Greg Stanton. Minutes after Biden finished his post-NATO address, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut also withdrew his support of Biden.

Himes is the Chair of the National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee, making him an important voice on Capitol Hill.

Senator Peter Welch was the first member of the Senate to publicly call on Biden to leave the race, publishing his opinions in an op-ed that was published in the Washington Post on Wednesday.

While several prominent lawmakers have expressed their concerns about the president's viability in the race, there are also many leaders in the party that have voiced their support for Biden and his ongoing campaign.

Most notably, the influential Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) continues to throw their support behind the president.

George Clooney Pens Op-Ed in New York Times Calling on Biden to Exit Race

While it is not unusual that politicians are weighing in on the Biden issue, an op-ed in the New York Times on Wednesday came from an atypical author.

Actor and producer George Clooney authored the op-ed, asking Biden to exit the race and do his part to preserve the nation's democracy. In addition to his pull in Hollywood, Clooney is also a mega-donor and influential financial supporter of the Democratic Party.

Clooney detailed meeting with Biden at a major June fundraiser in Los Angeles, citing that the president was not the same man of 2020.

The June 15 event headlined by Clooney and other movers and shakers in Hollywood raised $28 million for Biden's campaign, the most cash ever brought in for the party from one single event.

As a magnate of the entertainment industry, Clooney was clear in his praise for Biden as a leader and a friend. However, he was also clear that he believed that the country would be best served if Biden stepped aside.

Vice President Kamala Harris Hits the Road

While all the chatter in Washington, D.C. surrounded the growing alarm over Biden's mental acuity and fitness for office, Vice President Kamala Harris spent the week on the road continuing to campaign for the president.

Harris made a stop in critical battleground state Nevada on Tuesday, using her time behind the podium to draw attention to the Project 2025 agenda drafted by some conservative policy makers.

On Wednesday, Harris headed to Dallas to speak to her Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters at their biennial Boule convention. The speech by Harris was a concerted effort by the Biden campaign to court the female and Black vote.

Thursday brought the vice president to Greensboro, North Carolina, speaking to a crowd at a historic Black high school about the "existential" importance of the upcoming election.

She will travel to swing state Pennsylvania to attend the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote presidential town hall meeting this Saturday.

Latest on Upcoming Republican National Convention

While Democrats grapple with the delicate situation of potentially replacing Biden at the top of the ticket, the GOP is gearing up for the Republican National Convention (RNC) next week.

The convention is set to kick off on Monday in Milwaukee at the Fiserv Forum, culminating with presumptive nominee Donald Trump accepting the party's nomination on Thursday evening.

The convention is predicted to draw about 50,000 people to Milwaukee throughout the week. One of the biggest questions leading into the convention is who Trump is going to appoint as his running mate. The vice presidential nominee is slated to address the convention on Wednesday evening.

According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO and President Dana White will address the gathering just prior to Trump taking the stage.

Other confirmed speakers at the event throughout the week include Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and Republican House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik.

It is also being reported that former first lady Melania Trump will be in attendance at the RNC. She has kept a relatively low profile since her husband left office in January 2021.

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) will be held on August 19 - 22 at Chicago's United Center.

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