Summary
"I am running! And I'm gonna win!" US President Joe Biden vowed at a campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, as the crowd chanted: "Don't you quit!"
His campaign is under intense scrutiny amid questions over his age as he seeks to beat Republican Donald Trump in November's election
Some prominent Michigan Democrats will not attend tonight's rally, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, according to reports
Biden met on Friday with prominent Democratic groups, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as he seeks to shore up support
Biden met top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries on Thursday, who told his caucus in a letter that he shared "heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the path forward" with the president
More of Biden's fellow Democrats have called for him to stand aside, after a stumbling debate performance last month fuelled concerns over his ability to serve another term
The president stood firm in a defiant hour-long news conference on Thursday night, where he dismissed the doubts about his campaign
Live Reporting
Edited by Caitlin Wilson and Jude Sheerin
It's been another long day in American politicspublished at 01:58 13 July
01:58 13 July
We're closing down our coverage of the political storm swirling around US President Joe Biden.
It's been another long day at the end of a long week in US politics.
Here's what happened today:
- Biden's campaign started the day riding the momentum of his Nato summit news conference Thursday night, despite a few awkward gaffes
- As the day went on, a handful of Democratic lawmakers added their names to the list of party figures calling on Biden to step aside as presidential candidate due to concerns over his age and mental fitness
- Some major Democratic donors, including Whitney Tilson, called on the president to go as well
- Biden travelled to Michigan to speak in front of a crowd of supporters, appearing more energised than we have seen him in recent weeks
- The crowd in Detroit was also hyped up, chanting "We got your back" as Biden touted his plans for a second term and hit out against his opponent Donald Trump
You can read more about today's top stories below:
Many Democrats are sticking with Biden. Here's why
Who are the Democrats calling time on Joe Biden?
Biden is teetering. Trump's plan? Let it happen
US allies try to 'Trump-proof' Nato - but is that even possible?
Key moments as Biden spars with reporters and fumbles twice
The editors on this page have been Jessica Murphy, Caitlin Wilson and Jude Sheerin.
Our writers have been Adam Durbin, Brandon Drenon, Nadine Yousef, Max Matza and Ana fa*guy.
Thank you for joining us.
What is Project 2025?published at 01:42 13 July
01:42 13 July
In his remarks tonight, President Joe Biden linked Project 2025 with Donald Trump and his Republican rival's campaign.
"It was a project built for Trump," Biden said, calling it the biggest attack on personal freedom every proposed in the United States.
But what is Project 2025?
Project 2025 was created by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank and runs for nearly 900 pages.
Spear-headed by former Trump administration officials, the policy proposal calls for the sacking of thousands of civil servants, expanding the power of the president, dismantling the Department of Education, sweeping tax cuts, a ban on p*rnography, halting sales of the abortion pill, and a whole lot more.
Trump has attempted to distance himself from the document, while Democrats say it hints at what might happen during a second Trump term.
Read more about Project 2025 here.
Watch: Biden vows 'I am running!'published at 01:37 13 July
01:37 13 July
Two dozen former lawmakers call on Biden to step aside, report sayspublished at 01:36 13 July
01:36 13 July
Even as Joe Biden addressed a crowd of his supporters in Detroit, some Democrats are still expressing concern over his presidential candidacy.
A group of 24 former congressional Democrats sent a letter to the president calling on him to step aside, in order to stop Donald Trump from winning, according to Politico, external.
They asked Biden to allow for an "open convention" in August to decide who should sit atop the party's 2024 presidential ticket.
The group acknowledged Biden's "extraordinary record", but cautioned that if Biden stayed he would lose not only the White House but cause members of Congress to lose their seats too, according to the letter obtained by Politico.
They said their call was “difficult but necessary".
See Also2023 Can-Am Outlander : Adventure ATVs & 4-wheelers2014 Can-Am Outlander 500 Review – Video2013 Two-Up Heavyweight ATV Shootout – VideoWhat CNN’s reporter saw on the ground when Trump was attacked | CNN Politics“While time is short, that does not justify inaction or complacency.”
What did Biden say at his Michigan rally?published at 01:32 13 July
01:32 13 July
If you're just joining us, here's the latest:
- Biden just left the stage at a campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan, where he spoke for about 35 minutes
- The crowd was energised, frequently chanting "Four more years" and "Don't you quit"
- Biden was also more animated than we've seen him in recent days, addressing the calls for him to step aside head-on. "I am running, and I'm gonna win," he said
- He stuck to many of his usual talking points, including touting low unemployment numbers and promising to support reproductive rights
- Biden spent a good chunk of his speech attacking his opponent Donald Trump for his legal woes and his ties to the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 policy plan - and even accused him of cheating at golf
- Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was not in attendance as party concerns over Biden's candidacy continue, though the state's lieutenant governor did make an appearance
Biden finishes speakingpublished at 01:03 13 July
01:03 13 July
Image source, Reuters
Biden has finished speaking at his rally in Detroit.
He's waving to the crowd as Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" plays.
Stick with us as we bring you all the analysis and updates from the day in US politics.
Biden: 'Stop treating politics like reality TV'published at 00:57 13 July
00:57 13 July
"It's not a joke. It's time for us to stop treating politics like entertainment and reality TV," says Biden.
"Another four years of Donald Trump is deadly serious," he says, calling Trump's platform a danger to the US public.
Biden attacks Project 2025published at 00:55 13 July
00:55 13 July
Biden's now attacking conservative think thank the Heritage Foundation's proposal for sweeping changes to government policies they want enacted during a second Trump term, referred to as Project 2025.
"It was a project built for Trump", Biden says, calling it the biggest attack on personal freedom ever proposed.
He asks the crowd if they've heard of it and they reply in unison, saying "Yes".
You can read more about Project 2025 here:
Project 2025: A wish list for a Trump presidency, explained
Biden sharpens attacks on Trump as he shrugs off debatepublished at 00:51 13 July
00:51 13 July
"You may have noticed that since the debate, the press and the good guys up there have been hammering me," Biden says, pointing to the news cameras.
"I make a lot of mistakes. It's OK. I sometimes confuse names," he continues.
"But guess what? Donald Trump has gotten a free pass," he says, accusing the media of not scrutinising some of his opponent's recent comments.
"He's riding around his golf course, filling out his scorecard before he picks up his club," Biden says, accusing Trump of cheating at golf.
He repeatedly refers to his rival as a "convicted criminal" and references the case in which Trump was found liable for defaming a woman who accused him of sexual assault.
He also refers to Trump's suggestion during the Covid-19 pandemic that bleach may be used internally to prevent the illness, his tear-gassing of peaceful protesters outside the White House, and other sometimes unclear comments the former president has made at his rallies recently.
Referring to the 6 January, 2021 riot at Capitol Hill he calls Trump "a threat to this nation".
Biden hits his usual talking pointspublished at 00:45 13 July
00:45 13 July
At his rally in Detroit, Biden is hitting many of his usual talking points, especially focusing on his administration's economic positions.
He emphasises his support for unions and the middle class, and touches on slowing inflation and low unemployment numbers.
Speaking from a teleprompter, Biden hasn't stumbled over his words or made any mix-ups, as he has been criticised for recently.
Biden: 'I am running!'published at 00:35 13 July
00:35 13 July
Image source, Getty Images
Biden has addressed the elephant in the room, as he loses some Democratic support post-debate and an increasing number of elected officials from his own party call for him to drop his re-election campaign to let someone younger run instead.
"There's a lot of speculation lately," he says. "'What's Joe Biden gonna do? Is he gonna stay in the race? Is he gonna drop out?"'
"I am running! And I'm gonna win!"
As he mentions Donald Trump, the crowd chants "lock him up" - co-opting a slogan that Trump's supporters used on Hillary Clinton during his 2016 campaign.
Rally erupts into chants repeatedlypublished at 00:30 13 July
00:30 13 July
Biden seems more energised tonight than some of his other recent appearances - and the crowd is riled up too.
"We got your back," the crowd shouts at Biden, interrupting him as he speaks.
"I've got your back as well," Biden replies.
'Motown is Joetown'published at 00:28 13 July
00:28 13 July
Biden opens his speech by remarking on the large signs that have been put up for his appearance.
"Motown is Joetown," he reads, using the nickname for Detroit - aka Motor City - where most of America's vehicles have traditionally been produced.
He goes on to note that his father used to sell cars, and reiterates his support for labour unions such as the United Auto Workers (UAW).
Detroit rally is fired up for Bidenpublished at 00:20 13 July
00:20 13 July
Before Biden has even started speaking in Detroit, Michigan, the crowd is on their feet.
"Don't you quit," they shout over and over.
We're still waiting for the president's remarks.
Biden takes the stagepublished at 00:17 13 July
00:17 13 July
Joe Biden has just taken the stage to speak to supporters at a campaign rally in Detroit, Michigan.
Stick with us as we bring you all the highlights.
Actress Octavia Spencer sticks with Biden, despite other celebrities' scepticismpublished at 00:04 13 July
00:04 13 July
Nada Tawfik
Reporting from DetroitPresident Joe Biden’s campaign has had to contend with big-name celebrities such as George Clooney and Ashley Judd making headlines with their calls for him to bow out of the race. But here in Detroit, the award-winning actor Octavia Spencer took the stage at this rally and strongly endorsed him.
She said Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had delivered for the American people, with a proven record of results and a bold vision for the future.
Spencer said this year’s stakes are higher than ever, a common message of the Biden campaign, and that the president would defend, not diminish, democracy.
Biden greets voters ahead of speechpublished at 23:53 12 July
23:53 12 July
Image source, Reuters
Before taking the stage, Biden took a moment to speak to his supporters on his way into the venue.
"By the way, we're gonna win Michigan," he tells them, to thunderous applause.
The crowd shouted back to him "We love you" and "We got you, Joe, you're gonna win."
Biden's pro-Israel stance angers some Democrats in Michigan, state with large Arab communitypublished at 23:46 12 July
23:46 12 July
Image source, Getty Images
As we await Biden's speech, there is a group of pro-Palestinian protesters outside the high school venue where he is due to speak soon, calling for Democrats to "abandon Biden" because of the president's support for Israel.
Michigan has the largest number of Arabs of any US state, and many of them say they will boycott Biden's candidacy over his administration's ongoing military aid to Israel as the long-time US ally wages war in Gaza.
The movement led over 100,000 voters in the state's Democratic primary to write-in "uncommitted" rather than cast their vote for Biden.
Biden needs every vote he can get to win the vital battleground state - and 100,000 would be a lot of votes to lose in the general election in November.
In 2016, for example, Hillary Clinton lost Michigan to Donald Trump by fewer than 11,000 ballots.
Read more:
'Uncommitted' protest vote in Michigan primary is warning Biden cannot ignore
Image source, Getty Images
Watch: Key Biden moments from Nato, press conferencepublished at 23:26 12 July
23:26 12 July
As we wait for President Joe Biden to take the stage in Michigan, let's take a look back at his public appearances yesterday.
Biden gave a much-anticipated news conference after the Nato summit on Thursday. His performance was mostly judged as better than his debate appearance two weeks ago. Biden answered questions about his fitness to run for another term, insisting he is up to the task. He also spoke about the faith he has in his Vice-President Kamala Harris.
But two awkward moments from Thursday stood out: When Biden mistakenly called Harris "Vice-President Trump" and when, at an earlier Nato appearance, he referred to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin."
You can watch both flubs, and his comments about Harris, below.
Voters have mixed feelings about Biden right nowpublished at 23:15 12 July
23:15 12 July
Nada Tawfik
Reporting from MichiganAs calls for him to step aside grow, President Joe Biden is surrounding himself with his most ardent supporters.
It seems his campaign is betting that the optics of these scripted rallies can help him outlast calls the calls to step aside.
There are chants of “4 more years” for Biden and “lock him up when Donald Trump is mentioned by the speakers.
But, the mood in the room is mixed.
One couple from a Detroit suburb describes themselves as “nervous, but on board.” They told me that they didn’t believe he had “lost his step” until the debate, and that many in their circle feel the same way. They still think Biden’s the best option for now.
Meanwhile, several others tell me they want the party infighting to stop.
Joyce Walker-Tyson bluntly tells me that Democrats need to “stop talking and let it die down".
She says compared to what Trump has “gotten away with", Democrats shouldn’t be “crying and saying let’s get rid of our guy".