1 of 6 | White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre (C) speaks during Wednesday’s daily press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
July 3 (UPI) — President Joe Biden had “strong conversations” and will “absolutely not” leave the race amid his admittedly poor presidential debate performance, the White House said Wednesday ahead of Biden’s meeting with Democratic governors.
“The president is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Wednesday afternoon during a daily press briefing.
“Anything else that we’re hearing or reporting is absolutely false,” she said, adding “and that’s directly from [Biden].”
On Wednesday, the White House also announced a “significant” new Ukraine aid package for its ongoing war with Russia in eastern Europe.
As Jean-Pierre touted Biden’s “historic” record, she said that the president “understands it’s fair” to ask questions related to his debate performance, characterizing it not as an “episode” as some have said but rather that “it was a bad night.”
It was also reported Wednesday Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were on a “all staff” campaign call with Democratic National Committee staffers.
The White House outlined how in addition to jet-lag and Biden’s alleged cold, the presumptive Democratic nominee was in the midst of his “ongoing duties as commander-in-chief” traveling the globe over multiple time zones including for the G7 Summit in Italy ahead of the high-stakes and early presidential debate, saying how Biden’s performance is “what can happen in an important moment when you’re not feeling well.”
“He owned that the debate was not his best night,” Jean-Pierre said. “It was not an excuse but an explanation and that’s what you heard form him.”
As she got questioned about the timing of Biden’s extensive and “rigorous” travel schedule and the period in which he allegedly was sick leading up to the recent CNN debate in Atlanta, Geo. with former President Donald Trump, Jean-Pierre defended the timing by saying Biden “knew he had to push through, and power through.”
“We are laying out and explaining exactly what happened,” the White House press secretary said. “We certainly don’t want to explain this away.” Biden, she said, will “continue to make a strong case for his agenda and thats what you’re going to see.”
The White House on Wednesday also unveiled its 7th such security package for war-torn Ukraine.
Jean-Pierre explained the package will include missiles, ammunition, rocket system, artillery rounds and “other critical capabilities” that are being drawn down from the U.S. stock supply, in addition to new Defense Department funding for interceptors.
Later Wednesday evening, Biden will host a planned White House meeting with more than 20 Democratic governors and Democratic Senate and House leaders in the wake of his recently self-acknowledged bad debate performance.
“The president is going to take some time and talk to those members and Democratic governors,” Jean-Pierre explained during a previous press briefing.