While his family was aware of how poorly he performed against Donald Trump, they also continue to think he’s the best person to beat the Republican presumptive nominee.

President Joe Biden’s family used a Sunday gathering at Camp David to urge him to stay in the race and keep fighting despite his dreadful debate performance, and some members criticized how his staff prepared him for the faceoff, according to four people familiar with the discussions.

Biden spent the day sequestered with first lady Jill Biden, his children and grandchildren. It was a previously scheduled trip to the presidential retreat in Maryland for a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz for the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

But the gathering was also an exercise in trying to figure out how to quell Democratic anxiety that has exploded following Thursday’s performance.

While his family was aware of how poorly he performed against Donald Trump, they also continue to think he’s the best person to beat the Republican presumptive nominee. They also believe he is capable of doing the job of president for another four years, according to the people who were not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

  • John Richard@lemmy.world
    412·
    5 months ago

    He spent 7 days rehearsing for the debate to remember that he beat medicare. Just pick someone else so that we aren’t all complicit in elder abuse and let’s win this thing. Biden was good at supporting genocide… I’ll give him that.

    • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
      86·
      5 months ago

      Please, it’s clear “elder abuse” is another limp maga slogan.

      You vote for the rapist if you want, I’m voting for the good president who has achieved successful policies that benefit hundreds of millions.

      • John Richard@lemmy.world
        511·
        5 months ago

        What is your problem man? I’m not MAGA. I’m just not going to be in a cult and pretend Biden is fine. He clearly isn’t fine. Keep your head in the sand. Go call your fellow Dems MAGA and rapist supporters. That’ll certainly help your efforts to beat Trump. I thought supporting elder abuse would be MAGA level politics, but I guess not.

        • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
          72·
          5 months ago

          Nobody is pretending Biden is “fine”, I’m saying that he was supported for his positive progressive policies that benefited hundreds of millions of people for four years, and everyone is suddenly siding with maga trolls throwing a hissy fit because the old guy who did a great job as president is still old.

          Any progressive listening to your limp maga crap is showing themself to be nearly as susceptible to playground taunts as you lot.

          • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            5 months ago

            Nobody is pretending Biden is “fine”

            What garbage. You’re pretending that he’s not only fine, but a progressive. I’m not sure which is more absurd.

          • John Richard@lemmy.world
            36·
            5 months ago

            He isn’t just old, but struggled to remember most of what he spent the previous 7 days prepping for. He did an okay job domestically… he had some wins but he also did some really stupid and terrible things like threatening to arrest railroad workers for demanding better working conditions, and saying how much he is a Zionist. He didn’t fix ERISA, housing or inflation. If we’re comparing him against Trump then not enabling domestic extremist is a good job.

            • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
              52·
              5 months ago

              There you go making things up again because you don’t have a leg to stand on.

              Biden was a great first-term president, he’ll be a great second term president.

              Keep fuming and playing make believe, it’s pretty funny.

                • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
                  32·
                  5 months ago

                  I don’t need to change maga minds, that’s longer trying to fill a bucket without a bottom.

                  I’m stating his very clear, dedicated investment in concrete legislation that is helping hundreds of millions of people.

                  “Ride dicks” if that’s your game, but leave me out of it.

              • John Richard@lemmy.world
                34·
                5 months ago

                What did I make up? Tell me and I’ll either provide facts or retract it. Unless you’re looking for a cult and not facts?

                • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
                  23·
                  5 months ago

                  If I ever start looking for a cult, I’ll ask you first.

                  Your whole stance is based on vague pretense, spin and wholesale fabrication.

                  Make up your silly, false stories if you like, and prepare to get called out.

                  • John Richard@lemmy.world
                    32·
                    5 months ago

                    You lodge a bunch of accusations at me but can’t articulate with fact a single one. Who does that sound like?