President Joe Biden was reportedly holed up at Camp David with his wife and chief adviser, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Ed.D., and other relatives at Camp David on Sunday (June 30) to discuss the future of his campaign following a disappointing performance in the first presidential debate for the 2024 election, sources close to Biden confirmed to NBC News.
Biden reportedly planned the trip prior to last Thursday's (June 27) debate, which was attended by the first couple's children and grandchildren.
“The decision-makers are two people — it’s the president and his wife,” one source told NBC News. “Anyone who doesn’t understand how deeply personal and familial this decision will be isn’t knowledgeable about the situation.”
“The only person who has ultimate influence with him is the first lady," another source added.
Biden's campaign blasted what it called the "bedwetting brigade" for panicking over his first debate performance and cited a poll that pegs him as a stronger candidate than other Democrats. Deputy campaign manager Rob Flaherty reaffirmed that Biden planned to stay as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in an email to supporters entitled '7 Things to Tell Your Friends After The Debate -- And 4 Things You Can Do,' according to the New York Post.
“The bedwetting brigade is calling for Joe Biden to ‘drop out.’ That is the best possible way for Donald Trump to win and us to lose,” Flaherty wrote via the Post.
“Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee, period. End of story,” he continued. “And if he were to drop out, it would lead to weeks of chaos, internal foodfighting, and a bunch of candidates who limp into a brutal floor fight at the convention.”
Flaherty also cited a Data for Progress poll in which Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were the strongest Democratic candidates to challenge former President Donald Trump, though the presumed Republican presidential nominee was still defeating both Biden and Harris by a 48% to 45% margin, respectively.
“And at the end of the day, we’d switch to candidates who would, according to polls, be less likely to win than Joe Biden — the only person ever to defeat Donald Trump," said Flaherty, who went on to acknowledge Biden's shortcomings in the debate.
“Yes, the debate started rough, but voters saw what a threat Donald Trump is to the country. It was more than just lying — though he did plenty of that,” he added.
Biden's performance reportedly led to "panic" among Democrats, according to longtime Democratic operative and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod.
“He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on. But by that time, I think the panic had set in,” Axelrod said, adding that "there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.”
Biden, 81, the oldest president in history, appeared opposite Trump, 78, on the debate stage for the first time since the 2020 election and did little to quell concerns about his vigor and energy. The president appeared to struggle with his voice, clearing his throat and coughing multiple times, and was often seen open-mouthed and staring when Trump spoke, occasionally struggling to finish sentences.