As former President Donald Trump prepared to campaign in battleground Michigan alongside his vice presidential running mate, J.D. Vance, Biden loyalists continued to stand firm in their support for the embattled president.
“I’m all in,” Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow declared during a call with reporters on Saturday, ahead of the Republicans’ rally in her state. She predicted that Trump and Vance would “try to rewrite history and pretend to care about working people,” dismissively adding, “Give me a break.”
Despite mounting pressure, President Joe Biden and his team remain publicly committed to his campaign. A spokesman announced Saturday that Biden would return to the campaign trail “next week,” though reports suggest internal discussions are ongoing about a potential transition.
The pressure on Biden has intensified, with senior Democratic lawmakers and donors expressing concerns that an 81-year-old Biden could jeopardize not only the White House but also control of Congress.
Speculation about Biden’s replacement has been rampant, with Vice President Kamala Harris seen as the most likely candidate. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a prominent progressive, endorsed Harris’s readiness to step up if necessary. “Joe Biden is our nominee,” Warren said on MSNBC. “He has a really big decision to make. But what gives me a lot of hope right now is that if President Biden decides to step back, we have Vice President Kamala Harris, who is ready to step up, to unite the party, to take on Donald Trump, and to win in November.”
However, some Democrats fear that a late switch from Biden could lead to chaos and undermine the party’s chances.
Michael Tyler, the Biden-Harris communications director, reiterated in a briefing call with Stabenow that the president would be back on the campaign trail “as soon as we have a green light.”
On the other hand, Trump’s campaign is buoyant after a series of political victories, from favorable court rulings to Biden’s poor debate performance and even an assassination attempt that Trump used to galvanize his base.
Trump, 78, showcased his dominance over the Republican Party during the recently concluded Republican National Convention, firing up his supporters.
In a flurry of posts on X late Friday, Biden criticized several points from Trump’s convention speech, stating, “He bragged about getting along with dictators. That’s because Trump wants to be a dictator. He said so himself.”
As of late Friday, dozens of Trump’s most ardent supporters began lining up outside Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the Saturday rally at 5:00 pm (2100 GMT). By morning, hundreds waited in line, chanting “USA! USA!”
Edward Young, 64, attending his 81st Trump rally, wore a T-shirt featuring an iconic photo of Trump pumping his fist after being shot. “They have turned him into a martyr and left him alive,” he said, adding, “Now he’s more powerful than ever.”
The rally marks Trump’s return to the stage exactly one week after a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate him from a Pennsylvania rooftop. “I had God on my side,” Trump told the convention on Thursday.
Trump’s speech is expected to quickly pivot from calls for unity to sharp attacks on the Biden administration over issues such as illegal immigration, inflation, crime, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, China policy, and oil drilling.
Security will be a primary focus, especially given recent questions about Secret Service lapses at the Pennsylvania rally. Trump will speak inside an enclosed 12,000-capacity sports facility, allowing for more controlled security measures. Nonetheless, security is anticipated to be exceptionally tight.
This event will be Trump’s first campaign appearance with Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio. At 39, Vance could appeal to younger voters and his blue-collar background may help Trump, a billionaire businessman, win over critical swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
