Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 18, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 18, 2024
White House official insists Biden preparing to ‘hit the campaign trail next week’ — report
A senior White House official denies reports that US President Joe Biden is now open to stepping aside in the presidential race, ABC News reports.
“Anyone who has talked to Joe Biden in the last 24 hours can tell you that is not true,” the senior White House official is quoted as saying, adding that the only thing that has changed with the president’s campaign is his COVID diagnosis yesterday.
“He is preparing to hit the campaign trail again next week,” the official insists.
Some Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate have called on Biden to step aside in the race amid concerns about his fitness for the job at age 81 and his standing in opinion polls as the election draws nearer.
