Former President Trump expects Vice President Kamala Harris to take on his candidacy if President Biden drops out of the 2024 race, predicting Harris will have a challenging time in the campaign.
Former President Trump's muted public presence in the aftermath of the debate with President Biden appears to be coming to an end. Trump, who is widely expected to be the Republican presidential nominee, is slated to attend a rally near Miami, Florida, on Tuesday to critique Biden's underwhelming debate performance.
According to the Trump campaign, the former president will present evidence supporting his assertion that Biden, the Democratic Party, and the mainstream media are engaged in a cover-up to conceal what he claims is the president's cognitive decline.
Trump: If Biden Withdraws, Harris to Face Him
A campaign aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that Trump will "make the case that Biden and the Democrats, with the cooperation of mainstream media, have perpetrated a fraud and cover-up on the nation by claiming that Biden is fit to serve."
The debate proved to be a setback for Biden, who at 81 years old is the oldest president in U.S. history. His disjointed delivery and hesitant responses during the Atlanta showdown sparked widespread concern within the Democratic Party and prompted growing public and private calls from within his own party to step down as the 2024 standard-bearer.
Trump: If Biden Withdraws, Harris to Face Him
Over the past week, six House Democrats have publicly urged Biden to end his re-election bid. On Sunday, Fox News and other news outlets reported that four House Democrats holding influential positions on key committees had expressed in a private conference call that the president should withdraw.
However, the president and his campaign have firmly resisted calls to step aside. In a letter sent to congressional Democrats as they returned from the July 4th holiday recess, Biden reiterated his "firm commitment to staying in this race" and argued that "the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it is time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump."
Trump: If Biden Withdraws, Harris to Face Him
Biden stressed, "Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us."
Biden's supporters and other Democrats frequently highlight the numerous instances when the former president has made verbal blunders or appeared confused, raising concerns about his mental acuity.
Trump: If Biden Withdraws, Harris to Face Him
"Donald Trump must be confused. The only candidate who has been indicted, charged, impeached, and criminally convicted is Donald Trump," Biden campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika told Fox News, referring to his 34 felony convictions in his criminal trial in New York City.
Over the past week, Trump has maintained an uncharacteristically low profile while his rival has strived to bolster his campaign. A source within Trump's political orbit quipped, "How much do we need to do while they are busy committing suicide?" when asked about the campaign's limited presence following the debate.
Trump is gradually becoming more vocal. On Monday night, he called into Fox News' "Hannity" for his first TV interview since the debate. The former president told host Sean Hannity that Biden "may very well stay in" the 2024 presidential race, but he is prepared for Biden to withdraw.
"He's got an ego and he doesn't want to quit
