White House explains 'We finally beat Medicare' debate flub
![White House explains 'We finally beat Medicare' debate flub](https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/GettyImages-2159605712.jpg?w=900)
The White House on Wednesday explained what President Biden meant when he misspoke and said “We finally beat Medicare” in last week’s presidential debate.
“He meant to say he beat big pharma,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a briefing when asked about the president’s words. “I mean, that’s what he meant to say.”
The statement about Medicare by the president last Thursday night left some confused, and the president has faced an overall negative review of his performance in the debate against former President Trump. The debate, in which Biden spoke with a raspy voice and stumbled over his words, sent Democrats into a state of panic, and sparked questions about if the president should remain at the top of his party’s ticket.
On Wednesday, the White House was insistent that Biden is not leaving the presidential race, and Biden said in a fundraising email the same day that nobody “is pushing” him “out.”
“I’m the Democratic Party’s nominee,” the fundraising email reads. “No one is pushing me out. I’m not leaving, I’m in this race to the end, and WE are going to win this election. If that’s all you need to hear, pitch in a few bucks to help [Vice President Harris] and me defeat Donald Trump in November."
Some Democrats have even called for Biden to step out of the race or be replaced as the Democratic nominee. On Tuesday, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) became the first House Democrat to publicly push Biden to leave the presidential race in the wake of the debate.
“President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not,” Doggett said in a statement. “Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump’s many lies.”
Date: |
Filter
-
The Hill - Politics
Katie Porter: White House has 'clearly fumbled' response to debate
Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) said Wednesday the White House "clearly fumbled" its response to the fallout from President Biden's shaky debate performance, as a growing number of Democrats express concerns with their nominee's ability to carry out ... -
The Wall Street Journal - World
Biden and Democrats Have Truly Worked to 'Beat Medicare'
He wanted to ‘sunset’ Medicare while a senator, and his party has long desired to kill it with a single-payer system.Joe Biden -
CBS News - Top stories
White House, Biden campaign hold all-staff meetings amid debate fallout
Both the White House and the Biden campaign held all-staff meetings Wednesday as officials contend with political fallout from last week's presidential debate. Tom LoBianco, co-founder of 24sight News, and Kadia Goba, politics reporter for ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
Biden had ‘verbal check-in’ with doctor after White House said he got no checkup for debate cold
The White House on Friday said President Biden had a "verbal check-in" with his doctor about the cold he had during the debate, after telling reporters earlier in the week that he did not get a medical exam — and had not had once since his yearly ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
White House adamant Biden 'is not dropping out'
The White House was adamant Wednesday that President Biden isn’t dropping out of the 2024 race, despite some calls from Democrats for him to step aside. “The president is not dropping out, that’s something the campaign has shared,” press secretary ...Joe Biden -
The Guardian - World
White House efforts to shield Biden’s missteps are unraveling
Reducing press conferences, interviews and meetings with Congress members exposed as damage control measures. For three and a half years, Joe Biden was wrapped in a metaphorical ball of cotton wool by an anxious White House staff eager to protect ...Joe Biden -
BBC News - Top stories
'Spain were Germany's role model - now we believe we can beat them'
BBC pundit Thomas Hitzlsperger explains what Germany need to do to beat Spain in Friday's mouth-watering Euro 2024 quarter-final. -
The Hill - Politics
House Democrat: 'Biden is going to lose to Trump' after debate
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) predicted in a new interview that former President Biden will lose November's election to former President Trump, adding to a growing group of Democrats questioning Biden's chances after his dismal showing in ...Joe Biden -
NBC News - Top stories
White House weighs options after ruling on immunity as Democrats react with outrage
The White House is considering its options for a response to the Supreme Court's blockbuster ruling on immunity that handed Donald Trump a major victory, as President Joe Biden warns that an amoral future president could abuse those powers.
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Shark attacks: How much should you worry?
Shark attacks have gone up in recent years, in part due to an increase in shark populations. -
The Hill - Politics
Swalwell: Biden needs to 'show more' but Trump 'should step aside'
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) stopped short of defending President Biden Friday but argued that the one who needs to "step aside" ahead of November is former President Trump. Asked by MSNBC's Chris Hayes whether he thought Biden should remain the ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
'Consequences and repercussions': Post-debate Democratic infighting endangers Black support
Black Democrats are watching with alarm and frustration as the party devolves into infighting in the wake of President Biden’s lackluster debate performance last month. Black voters make up a critical part of the coalition that sent Biden to the ... -
The Hill - Politics
Why Democrats must now push out Kamala Harris
Often absent from many of the lists of those who might replace Biden is his own vice president. Why? -
The Hill - Politics
NATO members 'very concerned' over US stability: Gen. Wesley Clark
(NewsNation) — Ahead of the 75th NATO Summit, member countries are keeping a close eye on American politics regarding what's next for Ukraine, retired Gen. Wesley Clark said on "The Hill." The former NATO supreme allied commander said European ...