Biden survives his “big boy” press conference
JOE BIDEN held a long-awaited press conference on July 11th, but in the end two press conferences really took place. The first focused on policy, from a ceasefire in Gaza to restrictions on the use of American weapons in Ukraine. Here, despite some rhetorical flubs, Mr Biden demonstrated the firm grasp on issues that Americans expect from their president. The second press conference focused on politics. The embattled presidential candidate answered questions, often defensively, about his fitness for office and increasing opposition to his remaining in the race. This was an improvement over his calamitous performance at the debate with Donald Trump and his arrogant interview with ABC News afterward. Yet it won’t be enough to silence his doubters just yet.
“We have to make sure that Xi understands there’s a price to pay”, Mr Biden said of China’s president, part of an extended response to a question about the country’s co-operation with Russia. This, along with his more sweeping analysis of geopolitics, would be standard fare for the close of a NATO conference. But virtually every question also touched on Mr Biden’s viability as a candidate.
“Instead of my, every day, starting at seven and going to bed at midnight, it’d be smarter for me to pace myself a little more,” he said about his workload and schedule. Asked if he was prepared for high-stakes dealings with American adversaries, the president shot back, “I’m ready to deal with them now, and three years from now.”
Mr Biden certainly looked better than at the June debate. Though he coughed several times, the president seemed to gain momentum and energy as the press conference went on. Rather than pale and sickly, he sported a tan and was more lively, despite frequently stumbling over his words. (One of Mr Biden’s recurring tics is to trail off and declare “anyway”.)
Some of the president’s comments on policy were shallow, such as blaming inflation on corporate greed. But plenty of youthful politicians make economically illiterate appeals to their base in much the same way. Mr Biden was most confident and fluent when discussing foreign policy. His decades of experience were apparent as he analysed Israel’s response to the October 7th terrorist attacks. “I said to the Israelis,” Mr Biden recalled. “Don’t make the same mistake American made after bin Laden. There’s no need to occupy anywhere.”
Mr Biden also showed flashes of anger. “Did you see any damage?” a visibly annoyed Mr Biden responded when asked if his physical decline had hurt America’s standing in the world. “Have you seen a more successful conference? What do you think?” He added, with a Trumpian touch, “I thought it was the most successful conference I’ve attended in a long time. And find me a world leader who didn’t think it was.”
Indeed, Mr Biden often was in campaign mode: claiming credit for slowing inflation and improvements at America’s southern border. He criticised the Supreme Court as too conservative and accused Mr Trump of cheating at golf. He also continued to cast doubt on the accuracy of polls showing increasingly grim prospects for his reelection. At one point he assured a reporter, “I’m not in this for my legacy. I’m in this to complete the job I started.”
But virtually every question seemed to return, in some form, to whether Mr Biden was fit to serve as president for another four years. The 81-year-old argued that he already had a clean bill of health and didn’t need to take a neurological exam, though he would take one if his physician recommended it: “I’m surrounded by good docs.” Later Mr Biden suggested that the “only thing age does is help you—creates a little bit of wisdom if you pay attention.”
The reality is that the “big boy” press conference—as the White House called it—will not on its own assuage the concerns of voters or Democratic Party elites. Mr Biden seemed to recognise that when he acknowledged “I’m determined on running, but I think it’s important that I allay fears by letting them see me out there.” The question is whether Mr Biden, who theoretically controls his own political destiny after dominating the party’s primary, can hang on through the convention. The coming days will be pivotal.
For now, he is happy to turn attention to his Republican rival whenever possible. At one point during the press conference, Mr Biden accidentally referred to Kamala Harris as “Vice-President Trump”. As the event concluded, a reporter told Mr Biden that Mr Trump had mocked him for the mistake. How would he combat this sort of criticism, the journalist asked. Mr Biden’s response was cryptic: “Listen to him.” Then he ended the press conference.