Former President Donald Trump’s advisers and allies viewed President Joe Biden’s press conference as the best-case scenario for the Republican’s campaign: not enough to force him out but with enough errors that they can mine the event for opposition material.
Trump’s campaign is still hoping Biden stays in the race, believing he is the weakest candidate for the former president to face in November. His strategy, in part, centers on the notion that Biden is not mentally fit to be president.
Fred Doucette, a New Hampshire state representative who chaired Trump’s prior presidential campaigns in the state, said: “This is great. Sit back and let [Democrats] do this. You don’t attack an enemy that’s attacking themselves. … And that bandwagon [calling on Biden to get out] is only going to get bigger.”
As the press conference unfolded, Trump mocked Biden for mistakenly calling Vice President Kamala Harris “Vice President Trump,” and his campaign quickly turned that moment into a video clip, highlighting the error and sarcastically posting: “Great job, Joe!”
But the press conference, according to allies and advisers, affirmed their belief that the former president is best positioned to beat Biden, who faces widespread worries from members of his own party that he may not have the stamina or mental acuity to campaign for president. Already, at least 17 House Democrats and one Democratic senator have called on the president to step aside.
An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll released Thursday showed Trump beating Biden, 46-47%, but in a matchup against Harris, trailing 49-46%.
A Trump adviser, when asked about Biden’s performance, said “Democrats’ worst nightmare is unfolding. … He gave us enough new material and may stave off his insurrection.”
“Best of both worlds,” said a Trump ally, echoing the adviser. “Bad but not bad enough to be forced out.”
Both were granted anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
Donald Trump Jr. said on his Rumble livestream that Biden did better than he thought he would do. “I think he did fine enough to be able to stay in it — he doesn’t want to go.” He later shared a social media post of Harris and Trump faces blended together reading “Vice President Trump.”
When asked whether the campaign has any comment, a spokesperson referred to Trump’s posts. Earlier, Trump met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who flew to Mar-a-Lago at the conclusion of the NATO summit in Washington. Orbán said they talked about “peace.” “He will figure it out!” Orbán wrote.
Since Biden’s dismal June 27 debate, the Trump campaign has largely allowed the president to dominate the news cycle — preferring to let Biden draw headlines about his gaffes and Democrats questioning his fitness.
But Republicans are preparing for their convention starting Monday, when Trump will need to step into the spotlight and once again dominate headlines. In the coming days, he is expected to announce his running mate, though campaign staff concede they’re content in the meantime to hand over the news cycle to Biden.
