Biden lashes out at Trump, Supreme Court as more Democrats say he should withdraw

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., questioned Monday night why President Biden has not taken a cognitive test amid concerns over his mental acuity.

"Why don't you take a cognitive exam?" Graham said during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity."

Graham added that he believes Biden does not think he would pass a cognitive test.

On an MSNBC program that's a favorite of the Washington and New York liberal establishment, President Biden blasted "elites" in the Democratic Party on Monday who are trying to force him out of the 2024 race. And some critics and media observers sympathetic to him aren't buying it.

As he wrapped up a lengthy phone-in interview on "Morning Joe," Biden challenged his own party doubters as he emphatically declared he was staying in the 2024 race.

"I’m getting so frustrated by the elites," he told MSNBC hosts and Biden supporters Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. "Now I’m not talking about you guys, but by the elites in the party who — they know so much more. If any of these guys don’t think I should run, run against me. Go ahead, announce for president. Challenge me at the convention."

Earlier in the interview, Brzezinski name-dropped outlets who want him to step aside amid concerns about his viability against former President Trump, such as The New York Times, The Economist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Boston Globe. There have also been some House Democrats who have called for him to not seek re-election, as well as prominent liberal names like Tim Ryan, James Carville and David Axelrod.

"They're big names, but I don't care what those big names think!" Biden said. "They were wrong in 2020! They were wrong in 2022 about the red wave! They’re wrong in 2024! Come out with me, watch people react. You make a judgment!"

NBC's Chuck Todd was skeptical about Biden's rhetoric afterward, noting that Biden had sailed to the Democratic nomination without a serious challenger. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., voiced concerns about Biden's age and health as part of his primary campaign, but he never remotely threatened the president's chances of winning the nomination.

"Biden’s anger at ‘elites’ is a bit misplaced," Todd wrote on X. "Without the ‘elites,’ he would have had a serious primary foe. Without the ‘elites,’ the No Labels effort would have a compelling ticket. Arguably, it’s the 'elites' who put too much faith in Biden that got the Dems in this position."

Fox News' David Rutz contributed to this report.

President Biden and his status at the top of the Democrat ticket in November are expected to be discussed by Democrat senators on Tuesday during a weekly caucus meeting as concerns continue to emerge among the party members.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., had been trying to gather a group of Democrat senators to meet on Monday to discuss a path forward amid the fallout of Biden's debate against former President Trump, a source familiar told Fox News Digital.

However, the meeting the Virginia senator was trying to plan is no longer being sought. The details of the potential meeting hadn't yet been confirmed when reports of it emerged. Because of the leaks, the Democrats opted not to hold a separate meeting to talk about the president.

Instead, the caucus will talk about the dilemma during their already scheduled policy lunch on Tuesday.

"With so much at stake in the upcoming election, now is the time for conversations about the strongest path forward," Warner said in a statement Monday afternoon. "As these conversations continue, I believe it is incumbent upon the President to more aggressively make his case to the American people, and to hear directly from a broader group of voices about how to best prevent Trump’s lawlessness from returning to the White House."

Fox News' Julia Johnson and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.

President Biden spoke on the phone Monday with the Congressional Black Caucus about November's election and what role the caucus will play in his re-election campaign.

A spokesperson for the Biden campaign confirmed the call to Fox News Digital:

"Tonight, President Biden joined a call with the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss the November election," the spokesperson said. "Chairman Horsford opened the call, former Chairman Beatty introduced President Biden, and Congressman Clyburn closed the call."

"During the conversation, President Biden thanked those on the call, talked about the stakes of this election, and the critical role CBC leaders will play in reelecting him and beating Donald Trump," the spokesperson continued.

Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., released a statement after the call saying she stands with Biden for another four years "because he's consistently stood with my community."

"President Biden spoke extensively about his plans to uplift Black Americans and grow Black wealth," Wilson wrote. "He's already increased Black wealth and if we elect him for another four years, we can continue to slash Black poverty and help Black Americans thrive."

"Today's call reaffirmed my support for Biden and Harris," she continued. "Undermining Biden only weakens our resolve to defeat Donald Trump in November. I reject Trump's racism and authoritarianism and stand firmly for democracy. And in November, everyone holding 'Black jobs' are going to send Donald Trump back whining to Mar-a-Lago! This election is a clear choice between democracy and authoritarianism, and we choose democracy every day."

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

President Biden's physician said Monday night that a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders visited the White House as part of his annual physical examinations, as concerns mount over the president's health and mental acuity.

White House physician Kevin O'Connor said in a letter that Dr. Kevin Cannard was chosen for Biden's annual physicals "not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System."

Cannard has a "very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems," O'Connor continued.

No signs of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, were found during Biden's physical in February, O'Connor wrote. The president did not see a neurologist outside his annual physicals.

O'Connor said he received permission from the president and Cannard to confirm the neurologist's identity and the nature of the visit, noting, "To protect patient privacy for the thousands of patients of the White House Medical Unit and the physicians who treat them, normally we do not disclose the names of specialists we work with."

This, after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a briefing earlier Monday that she would not identify Cannard or details of his visits due to privacy reasons.

Former President Trump on Monday predicted that President Biden will resist calls from Democrats to drop out of the race, saying the commander-in-chief has "got an ego."

"Well, they cover for [Biden] and they still are sort of covering, but now it's getting very difficult to do that," Trump said during an exclusive interview on Fox News' "Hannity," referring to Democrats and the media. "And you know, it looks to me like he may very well stay and he's got an ego and doesn't want to quit. He doesn't want to do that."

Calls for Biden to drop out of the presidential race have grown louder over the past week, following his disastrous debate performance against Trump late last month.

Trump further predicted that if Biden were to drop out, Vice President Kamala Harris would be the Democrats' heir.

"Well, I think that it will be her. I think they are very concerned about the vote," Trump said. "If it's not her, they are very ... gun shy. They don't want to do it any other way. I think I've actually come to believe that's what they're going to do."

Former President Trump on Monday accused President Biden of leading the nation into World War III.

Trump made the ominous remarks during an exclusive interview on Fox News' "Hannity."

"We're heading into World War III, in my opinion, with this man, semi-running things, because he's not running things," Trump told Hannity. "The people that surround the Oval Office, the people that surround, the Resolute desk ... they're really running things in Washington, I suspect."

Trump later said the president was "not respected and our country is in serious trouble."

"And I'll tell you what, if we're not careful, we're going to be right in the middle of World War III and that will be a war like nobody's seen before because the weaponry."

First lady Jill Biden scolded reporters for "screaming" at her Monday, as one tried to ask a question about her husband as she walked from a coffee shop to the car.

In a video shared by Washington Post senior video journalist JM Rieger, the first lady was confronted by a reporter who asked her about the growing number of Democrats calling for Biden to leave the race.

"Dr. Biden, do you have any message to House Democrats who are calling for your husband to drop out of the race? How are you feeling about the state of the race?" a female reporter could be heard shouting.

"Why are you screaming at me? You know me. Don't scream at me, just let me talk," Jill Biden responded.

This is an excerpt of a story by Fox News Digital's Lindsay Kornick. Click here to read the full report.

HOOKSETT, N.H. - Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who's a top surrogate for President Biden's re-election campaign, is taking aim at the small but growing number of Democrats urging the president to end his re-election bid. 

"It doesn’t help. Let’s be candid here," Newsom said as he spoke with reporters during a stop Monday in New Hampshire, the third swing state that the governor has campaigned in on behalf of Biden since Thursday.

Following his extremely rough debate performance a week and a half ago in his first face-to-face showdown with former President Trump, Biden has been attempting to prove that he still has the stamina and acuity to handle the toughest and most demanding job in the world. And he's trying to prove that he has the fortitude to defeat Trump.

This is an excerpt of a story by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and Deirdre Heavey. Click here to read the full report.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Monday weighed in on whether Presidential Biden should stay in the race following his disastrous debate performance against former President Trump late last month.

Speaking to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol Monday, Ocasio-Cortez “the matter is closed.”

“Joe Biden is our nominee,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “He is not leaving this race. He is in this race and I support him.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had an explosive exchange with CBS reporter Ed O'Keefe as the Biden administration faces intense scrutiny over recent revelations of the repeated White House visits of a Parkinson's disease expert, fueling more questions about President Biden's mental health. 

A series of reports, first reported by the New York Post, showed that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist from Walter Reed Military Medical Center who specializes in Parkinson's disease, met several times with Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, over the past year. 

During Monday's press briefing, Jean-Pierre repeatedly would not confirm Cannard's White House visits to reporters, citing security and privacy concerns despite the fact that Cannard's name was listed in the public visitor logs.

After Jean-Pierre dodged questions from Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller about whether Cannard's visits pertained to Biden's health, saying, "I'm not going to share people's [doctors'] names," O'Keefe lost his patience. 

This is an excerpt of a story by Fox News Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn. Click here to read the full report.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., on Monday said President Biden must convince the American people that’s he’s up to the task of another four years as commander-in-chief.

“President Biden has got to prove to the American people—including me—that he's up to the job for another four years,” Tester said in a statement. “Meanwhile, I’ll continue to do what I’ve always done: Stand up to President Biden when he’s wrong and protect our Montana way of life.”

Sources confirm to Fox News that President Biden is expected to virtually join the Congressional Black Caucus for a special meeting tonight as calls for him to step down from the presidential race grow louder.

Monday’s meeting comes after CBC chair, Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., endorsed the president for re-election, saying Biden and Vice President Harris “don’t want to see Donald Trump back in the White House and are ready to work and VOTE to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

The CBC typically meets on Wednesdays.

A sixth House Democrat is now asking President Biden to duck out of the 2024 White House race and accusing his campaign of dismissing concerns from fellow members of his party.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told CNN host Jake Tapper point-blank on Monday afternoon that he believes the 81-year-old president is not the best candidate to beat former President Trump in November.

"I think he should step aside. I think it's become clear that he's not the best person to carry the Democratic message," Smith said.

He maintained that Biden did "a great job" so far, citing the U.S.'s economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an excerpt of a story by Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind. Click here to read the full report.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested Monday that “thousands” of military personnel have been treated at the White House’s medical unit.

The comments came when responding to questions about a New York Times report which said an expert on Parkinson’s disease from Walter Reed National Medical Center had visited the White House eight times in the past eight months – including “at least once for a meeting with President Biden’s physician.”

A reporter asked Jean-Pierre if she could confirm ‘yes or no’ that the Parkinson’s expert’s visit had anything to do with the health of President Biden.

Jean-Pierre pivoted, saying the most recent report on the president’s health, released in February had no findings consisted with cerebellar or any other central neurological disorder such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or ascending lateral sclerosis.

Pressed to be more concise in her answer, Jean-Pierre said, “There are thousands of military personnel who come onto this White House. Many of them get the care from the White House medical unit.”

“The medical unit hosts a wide range of specialists, from dermatologists to neurologists and so, I cannot speak to every person because … there’s actually security reasons to protect their privacy,” Jean-Pierre said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during a raucous press conference Monday that President Biden speaks with his doctor “multiple times a week.”

A reporter had pressed Jean-Pierre on her comments the week prior, when she denied that president Biden had had any medical examinations since his physical in February – including up to and after his disastrous debate performance that re-ignited questions about his mental fitness.

“When you were here last Tuesday you were asked if the president had any medical examinations since [the president’s] physical in February,” a reporter asked. “You said flatly, ‘no.’ Three days later you admitted the president had a short check-in with the medical team … I mean those are two very different things,” the reporter said.

Jean-Pierre doubled down on her remarks, explaining that she said the president had had a “check in” rather than a “medical exam.”“He had a check-in with his medical doctor – which, is something he does a couple of times a week,” Jean-Pierre said, noting that the president’s medical unit is “literally on the other side of the colonnade.” 

President Biden was defiant in a call with donors Monday, saying he would not step down from the presidential race and was “not going anywhere.”

The president held a call with the Biden National Finance Committee, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jenn O’Malley Dillon, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

Fox News Digital is told the president was defiant, saying that people need to stop questioning him and took only four questions.

Many in the call praised Biden, with one saying the would “crawl over broken glass for him” and others saying, “We love you Joe.” 

White House national security spokesman John Kirby fended off questions about President Biden’s mental fitness from the podium Monday.

While trying to convey Biden’s mental acuity, Kirby said earlier that morning the president had asked him a question about the situation on the European continent that he couldn’t answer.

“I told him I had to get back to him,” Kirby said.

The comments had come in response to a reporter who asked whether the National Security spokesman had seen Biden conduct himself behind closed doors the same way the nation saw him during his disastrous debate performance against former President Trump late last month.

A reporter later pressed Kirby on the matter, asking again whether he had seen similar lapses in judgement behind closed doors.

Kirby said he was “uncomfortable” with these types of questions as it was “inappropriate” to respond to in his capacity as a spokesman for the White House.

“In my experience, the last two and a half years, I have not seen any reason whatsoever, to question or doubt his lucidity, his grasp of context, his probing nature, and the degree to which he is completely, in charge of facts and figures,” Kirby said.

On the anecdote for his interaction with the president earlier in the morning, Kirby said he had to “fess up” when he isn’t in command of "facts and figures.”

“And he asked me some questions this morning, I didn't have answers for,” Kirby said.

The White House of Monday made a subtle jab at Bloomberg's Justin Sink who had previously asked whether President Biden would be doing any "big boy" press conferences.

While rattling off Biden's schedule this week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president will hold a "big boy press conference," as Sink put it, after speaking to national labor leaders of AFL-CIO and hosting a NATO summit.

White House national security communications advisor John Kirby repeated the line again later in the press conference.

"Thursday afternoon, there'll be a meeting of the NATO Ukraine Council, after which the president will host an event with President Zelensky and nearly two dozen of our allies and partners who have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine, just as the president did. As you saw in Italy a week or so ago. After that, the president will hold a press conference -- I guess a big boy press conference is what we're calling it," Kirby said.

President Biden's Monday letter to House Democrats lashed out at Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., the lone Democrat to challenge President Biden and raise the issue of his age during the Democratic primary.

Biden's letter did not mention Phillips by name, but rather acknowledges his repeated efforts to draw attention to the president's age and mental capability.

"This was a process open to anyone who wanted to run," Biden wrote of the primary. "Only three people chose to challenge me. One fared so badly that he left the primaries to run as an independent. Another attacked me for being too old and was soundly defeated. The voters of the Democratic Party have voted. They have chosen me to be the nominee of the party."

Biden's letter also referenced John F. Kennedy Jr., who is currently running as an independent.

During his campaign, Phillips argued it would be "impossible" for Biden to fulfill his office for four more years.

"At that stage of life, it is impossible ultimately to conduct, to prosecute the office of the American presidency in the way that this country in the world needs right now. That is an absolute truth," Phillips said at the time.