Former President Donald Trump is getting back on the campaign trail at his flagship Miami golf resort as Democrats face tough calls over President Joe Biden’s reelection chances
The Latest: Trump is back on campaign trail, Biden stands firm on staying in race, NATO summitThe Associated Press
Former President Donald Trump is getting back on the campaign trail at his flagship Miami golf resort as Democrats face tough calls over President Joe Biden ’s reelection chances.
Ever since his dismal debate performance, Democrats have been wrestling with whether the 81-year-old Biden should continue as the party’s nominee. As anxious congressional Democrats returned to Washington weighing whether to work to revive his campaign or to try to edge him out, Biden Monday stood firm against calls for him to drop out of the race.
Against this backdrop of intense political drama, NATO leaders are converging on Washington starting Tuesday for a summit marking the organization’s 75th year. The main focus of the summit is for NATO leaders to shore up support for Ukraine in its battle against Russia but for Biden the summit has become just as much about demonstrating he is capable of meeting the grinding demands of the presidency for four more years.
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The Latest:
‘Not even in the same book’
Democrats had varying views of their nearly two-hour conversation, with some saying the party is unified and others leaving even more disconcerted.
Rep. Steven Cohen of Tennessee had a memorable answer when reporters asked him if the session got the party on the same page.
“We are not even in the same book,” Cohen said.
Others like Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the caucus is united behind Biden as their nominee.
Mayors are next
up for Biden
The president will keep up his personal outreach to different factions of the Democratic Party Tuesday night.
He’ll hold a virtual meeting with mayors around the country, according to a person familiar with the plans.
Biden plans to give remarks and take questions from the mayors.
It’s a formant similar to that used with members of the Congressional Black Caucus and with campaign donors on Monday.
Biden very effective in meetings, Yellen says
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke in favor of Biden’s performance on Tuesday.
She was asked by a Republican member of Congress during a House Financial Services Committee hearing whether she’d seen any “cognitive or mental decline.”
“The president is extremely effective in the meetings I’ve been in with him,” Yellen responded.
“That includes many international meetings that are multi-hour, like his meetings with President Xi.”
She said there had been no discussions among cabinet secretaries about invoking the 25th Amendment. That amendment deals with presidential removal.
Harris heads to Vegas
Vice President Kamala Harris took off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland Tuesday, headed west for a series of campaign events in Las Vegas.
Harris will meet with and rally voters in Las Vegas and Dallas this week.
She’s facing extra attention among Democrats considering her prospects as a possible replacement for Biden, who is resisting calls to step aside.
Dems gather for ‘family’ chat
House Democrats convened for a “family” discussion behind closed doors early Tuesday.
Tensions are still high over the 2024 election and President Joe Biden’s candidacy.
No cell phones. No leaks. Just what Caucus Chairman Rep. Pete Aguilar billed as a family chat among lawmakers.
So far, Biden’s supporters have been the most vocal emerging from the more than hour-long chat. But discontent remains behind the scenes.
