CNN
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Age had been President Joe Biden’s biggest political weakness ever since he launched his first campaign against former President Donald Trump five years ago. But his faltering debate performance on June 27 shocked many Americans in what was their most extensive exposure to the president since the last round of debates in 2020.
Here are the key events that have shaped one of the most crucial months in Biden’s career — and would eventually sunset his half-century life in politics:
June 27, 2024
Registered voters who watch CNN’s presidential debate in Atlanta between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump largely think Trump outperformed Biden, according to a CNN poll of debate watchers conducted by SSRS. Nearly 60% of those surveyed say they have no real confidence in Biden’s ability to lead the country.
Source: Will Lanzoni/CNN
June 28
Facing immediate criticism over his debate performance, the president returns to the campaign trail with stops in North Carolina and New York. During his energetic speech to supporters in North Carolina, Biden acknowledges his debate shortcomings: “I know I’m not a young man. I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth!”
Source: Pool
June 29-30
Biden heads to the Hamptons and New Jersey for fundraisers before retreating to Camp David, where his family encourages him to stay in the race.
July 1-7
Biden has a mix of official and campaign events around the Fourth of July, which includes travel to Virginia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Source: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
July 2
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi appears on MSNBC and helps open the door to questions over Biden’s future: “I think it’s a legitimate question to say, is this an episode, or is this a condition?”
Source: MSNBC
July 2
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas becomes the first sitting Democratic member of Congress to call on Biden to withdraw: “I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson. Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw,” Doggett said in his statement. “President Biden should do the same.”
Source: CNN
July 3
Biden meets with Democratic governors, including some who could potentially replace him on the ticket, in a high-stakes White House meeting. Some participants leave frustrated after Biden tells them he needs more sleep and plans to stop scheduling events past 8 p.m.
Source: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images
July 3
Philadelphia radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders interviews Biden, but later tells CNN that the campaign provided her eight questions, from which she chose four. She later leaves her job amid the fallout after the station said her interview “violates our practice of remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners.”
Source: CNN
July 4
Biden says for the first time in an interview with Milwaukee radio host Earl Ingram that he “screwed up” during the debate. Biden celebrates July 4th at the White House.
Source: The Earl Ingram Show / Civic Media radio network
July 5
While in Wisconsin, Biden sits down with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos as a growing number of officials, donors and supporters raise alarm over his age following the debate. The interview, during which Biden says only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to drop from the race, does little to stem the growing panic within the party.
Source: ABC News
July 7
In a virtual call between House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his caucus, multiple House Democrats tell Jeffries that Biden needs to step aside.
July 8
Biden sends a defiant letter to congressional Democrats saying that he will continue his reelection bid: “I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.”
July 8
Biden holds a call with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on the phone as he tries to shore up support.
July 8-11
Biden hosts the 75th anniversary of the NATO summit, including bilateral meetings and a welcome dinner. Defections from his Democratic coalition continue throughout the high-stakes summit.
Source: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg/Getty Images
July 10
Pelosi appears on MSNBC and declines to say directly whether Biden had her support, saying: “It’s up to the president to decide if he’s going to run.”
Source: MSNBC
July 10
Top Democratic fundraiser George Clooney publishes a New York Times op-ed publicly urging Biden to step down. “We are not going to win in November with this president,” Clooney, who co-hosted a major fundraiser for Biden just weeks prior, writes.
July 11
Biden holds a highly anticipated solo news conference — only his 15th since assuming the presidency. He further opens the door to possibilities that would make him drop from the race, saying he would consider doing so if data showed he cannot win, but he vows to stay in the race and “keep moving.” It was marked by an early gaffe when he called Harris “Vice President Trump.” Earlier in the day, when he introduced Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden referred to him as “President Putin” before correcting himself.
Source: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
July 11
Reporting starts to emerge of Democratic heavyweights Pelosi and former president Barack Obama privately expressing concerns about Biden.
July 12
Biden holds a video call with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during which at least one member calls on him to step aside.
July 12
Biden participates in a Michigan campaign event. He also tapes an interview with Complex Networks’ Speedy Morman that airs on Monday. He says he’s committed to staying in the race “unless I get hit by a train.”
Source: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
July 13
Sen. Chuck Schumer heads to Rehoboth to meet with Biden amid ongoing concerns about his electoral prospects. He also holds calls with the Congressional Progressive Caucus as well as the New Democrats. At least one of those calls grows contentious with Biden lashing out at Democratic Rep. Jason Crow.
July 13
Trump is injured in an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally. Spending his weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Biden delivers remarks denouncing the attack later that day before heading to the White House late in the evening.
July 14
Biden addresses the attempt on Trump’s life two additional times, urging the country to turn down the the temperature of its political rhetoric. He delivers his third Oval Office address since becoming president after receiving a security briefing on the Trump shooting that morning: “We cannot — we must not — go down this road in America.”
Source: Erin Schaff/Pool/Getty Images
July 15
Biden sits down with NBC’s Lester Holt as he continues to push back against concerns over his age and stamina.
Source: NBC News
July 16
Biden is in Las Vegas for the NAACP convention and sits down with BET News for another interview. Biden tells BET News that only a medical condition would convince him to drop out of the race.
Source: BET News
July 17
Rep. Adam Schiff, a close ally of Nancy Pelosi’s, becomes the most prominent elected Democrat to publicly call on Biden to step down: “I believe it is time for him to pass the torch.” Later that night, ABC News reports that Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer had told the president it would be best if he bowed out of the race.
July 17
After doing a radio interview with TelevisaUnivision, Biden tests positive for Covid. His events are canceled and he returns to the East Coast early to self-isolate at his beach house in Rehoboth.
July 18
It becomes public that Rep. Jamie Raskin sent a deeply personal letter to Biden on July 6 telling the president there is “no shame in taking a well-deserved bow” out of the race.
July 18
Sen. Jon Tester, facing a tough reelection bid in Montana, becomes the second Democratic senator to call on Biden to not seek a second term.
July 19
Biden’s campaign chair says the president is “absolutely” staying in the 2024 presidential race, despite Biden being more isolated than he’s ever been. “Joe Biden is more committed than ever to beat Donald Trump,” Jen O’Malley Dillon said on MSNBC.
Source: MSNBC
July 21
Sen. Joe Manchin on CNN’s “State of the Union” calls on the president to “pass the torch” as the pressure campaign continues to build.
Source: CNN
July 21
Biden announces on social media that he will not seek reelection but will finish his presidential term. He endorses Vice President Kamala Harris for the top of the ticket and says he will address the nation later in the week.
CNN’s Marco Chacon and Amanda Steen contributed to this report.
