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At least three congressional Democrats called for President Biden to exit the presidential race in the immediate aftermath of a solo news conference held at the end of the NATO summit Thursday.

Though he verbally stumbled at points and at one point referred to Vice President Harris as Vice President Trump, Biden displayed a strong command of foreign policy and national security issues during a 50-minute session in which he answered questions on a wide range of national and global matters.

Still, some congressional Democrats were not convinced by his performance.

Just moments after the briefing ended, Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called for Biden to end his bid, saying the presidents legacy of unparalleled public service, undeniable achievement, and unconditional patriotism is at risk if he does not step away from the campaign.

The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trumps promised MAGA authoritarianism, Himes said. I no longer believe that is Joe Biden, and I hope that, as he has throughout a lifetime of public service, he will continue to put our nation first and, as he promised, make way for a new generation of leaders.

After President Bidens news conference on July 11, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) called for Biden to step away from the presidential race in an interview on CNN. (Video: CNN)

Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen, who is running in a competitive Illinois district, said he is hopeful that Biden will put country over party and step aside in his campaign for President.

And Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) who just Tuesday had told reporters he believed Biden deserves reelection in a statement first obtained by Politico said that while the nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Biden for saving us from a second term of a Trump Presidency in 2020, the president should now withdraw from the campaign because the stakes are high, and we are on a losing course.

As of Thursday night, 20 congressional Democrats have either publicly or privately urged Biden to step aside since his faltering debate performance two weeks ago, fearing he will lose the White House to former president Donald Trump and endanger the partys gains in the House and Senate.

During the briefing, Biden insisted to reporters that hes not in the race to protect his legacy, but rather to complete the job I started. And while he insisted he is running, Biden acknowledged that he must reassure not only the American public but also members of his own party that he will be able to win the election.

Im determined on running, but I think its important that I allay fears, Biden said.

President Biden sought to reassure Democrats at a news conference on July 11 that he is fit to remain in the presidential race. (Video: The Washington Post)

Bidens performance Thursday may have led to some defections but other congressional Democrats doubled down on their support for the president. Many of them were from safe seats where their individual reelection hopes are all but assured.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told CNN after the news conference that he believes Biden convinced a lot of people he should stay in the race. And Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said Biden demonstrated how a world leader with his hand firmly on the tiller of our ship of state manages the country, U.S. national security interests and the naysayers.

Lets go Joe! Rep. Nikema Williams, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, posted on X.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) said Biden again showed he knows a million times more about policy than the convict conman.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), who is running for reelection after losing the Houston mayoral contest, said Biden knocked this press conference out of the park.

And no additional senator immediately emerged to ask Biden to step aside in the news conferences wake.

Tonight President Biden was knowledgeable, engaging, and capable, said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the co-chair of Bidens reelection campaign. He displayed a level of depth on foreign policy that Donald Trump has never and could never. No one is more prepared to lead our nation forward than Joe Biden.

Theodoric Meyer contributed to this report.

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A handful of Hill Democrats break with Biden after news conference - The Washington Post