Some high-profile Democrats have come to U.S. President Joe Biden’s defence after his debate performance and calls for him to end his re-election campaign. Biden reportedly now holding talks with his family at Camp David.

Washington

The 2024 United States presidential election between Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is set to take place this November. 

U.S. Presidential Election

Joe Biden's debate performance has sparked a flurry of reactions among Democrats and supporters. Following the debate, President Biden is reported to be holding discussions with his family at Camp David concerning his future, in a get-together that has taken on significant importance. Despite his unsteady performance in the debate, prominent Democrats have stepped forward to defend him, urging calm within the party.

There have been no public calls from sitting Democrats for Biden to step aside, though private conversations about the party's future are reportedly ongoing. Biden's team has responded by criticizing former President Donald Trump, highlighting inaccuracies in Trump's debate statements about voter fraud, the January 6th events, abortion, and the economy.

Supporters of Trump have voiced their confidence, contrasting Trump's debate energy with what they perceived as Biden's lack of command during the same event. Additionally, Biden's family is said to be encouraging him to stay in the race, despite the negative fallout from the debate. Biden's re-election campaign is positioning this period as an opportunity to recover and bolster their strategy moving forward.



Supporters defend Biden's debate performance

Joe Biden is taking some downtime with his family. A long-planned get-together with his wife and grandkids that has reportedly become a moment for candid discussions about his future. After his unsteady debate performance Biden's allies are trying to buy him time for hard conversations by urging Democrats to remain calm. I do not believe that Joe Biden has a problem leading. The president had a difficult night just like every single one of us do. Again, it was a bad night. Let's move on from that. While no sitting Democrats are publicly calling for Biden to step aside yet there are reports lawmakers are having blunt talks about the party's future. Biden's team is fighting back with attacks on his opponent by calling Donald Trump a liar. Do they think that he has the integrity to be president after that performance? Trump made roughly 30 false claims in the debate. There were lies about voter fraud in January 6th and false statements about abortion and the economy. Trump's relationship with the truth appears to be no problem for his potential running mates. I mean everything that he said on Thursday night he's been saying before. I mean so this is not news. There was an incredible contrast between Donald Trump's energy and command of the facts and Joe Biden's obvious inability to do the job as president. Trump returned to the campaign trail energized. His supporters appearing confident that Biden's chances are now greatly diminished. He's not a good president. He's a decent man. He's a failed president. He is compromised. That's the storyline here. And Katie, what more do we know about the advice Biden is getting from his family? Well when it comes to big decisions Joe Biden listens to his wife Jill. In late 2022 Biden decided he would seek re-election only after she gave the green light to go. According to reports Biden's family is urging him to stay in this race even though they know how damaging the debate has been. Biden and his inner circle are trying to determine the best way out of this mess and how exactly they're going to change his image to demonstrate that he does have the stamina and capacity to lead. Biden's re-election campaign team for its part has not signaled anything is changing. They're framing this as a moment to recover from doing what they can to reassure voters and donors. Katie Simpson in Washington.

Hurricane Beryl struck Union Island, part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, overnight, leaving nearly everyone homeless. Grenada also faces devastation and communication systems are down after Beryl made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. Jamaica is preparing for Beryl's approach, with residents urged to evacuate vulnerable areas.

Kingston

Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl churns toward Jamaica as Category 4

Hurricane Beryl is roaring through the Caribbean, causing havoc on several islands. At least six people have died, including three in Grenada, and one in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Hurricane Beryl kills six, causes ‘immense destruction’

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Canberra

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For the first time, a Democratic member of Congress has called on Joe Biden to drop out of the race for president following his shaky debate performance last week. Biden’s team maintains the president is still fit for office.

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After devastating parts of the southeast Caribbean, Hurricane Beryl churned toward Jamaica as a monstrous storm. While the extent of the damage so far is unclear, authorities have said the picture on some islands is grim, with widespread destruction.

Bridgetown

Widespread destruction across Jamaica after Storm Beryl

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to consider a ceasefire to accelerate an end to the war with Russia, and also said he wanted a big cooperation agreement with Kyiv.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Putin supporter makes surprise Ukraine visit

More than 100 people were killed in a stampede at a religious gathering in India's state of Uttar Pradesh over the weekend. Officials say the commotion from overcrowding and extreme afternoon heat contributed to the stampede.

Hathras

Deadly stampede at Indian religious event

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have desperately started fleeing the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis after Israel issued an evacuation order. Gaza's European Hospital was included in the evacuation, leaving many sick and wounded patients desperate for care.

Rafah

Israel-Gaza War

Palestinians flee Khan Younis as Israeli forces approach

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Powerful Hurricane Beryl barreled towards Jamaica on Tuesday (June 2) as the 2024 Atlantic season's first hurricane and the earliest storm on record to reach the strongest possible ranking: Category 5.

Climate Crisis

Beryl sets tone for 'very dangerous hurricane season'

Israeli forces bombarded several areas of the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday (July 2), and thousands of Palestinians fled their homes in what could be part of a final push of Israel's intensive military operations in nine months of war.

Sderot

Thousands flee as Israel bombs southern Gaza

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Hurricane Beryl leaves trail of destruction across Caribbean

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged Kyiv to work towards a "quick ceasefire" in Ukraine that could pave the way for negotiations with Russia to end more than two years of war. Orban issued the appeal standing next to President Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Ukraine, the first by the vocal critic of Western support for Kyiv.

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A car hit pedestrians near Seoul city hall, killing nine people and injuring at least four, South Korean media reports said, citing police and fire officials.

Seoul

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U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity that was seen as a win for his election rival, former President Donald Trump, calling it a dangerous precedent that did a disservice to the American people.

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Council of the City of Sydney

Terrorism investigation launched after Sydney Uni stabbing

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Hurricane Beryl strengthened as it churned toward the Caribbean's Windward Islands on Monday, according to officials, threatening devastating flooding and storm surges as life-threatening high winds picked up speed.

Saint George's

Hurricane Beryl 'extremely dangerous' as it gains strength

A year-long Border Force investigation has implicated 70 Melbourne airport workers and airline crew in drug and illegal product smuggling operations. The accused individuals include baggage handlers, ground crew, and airline crew members.

Melbourne

Airport staff implicated in smuggling investigation

The U.S. Justice Department will criminally charge Boeing with fraud over two fatal crashes and ask the planemaker to plead guilty or face a trial, two people familiar with the matter say.

Seattle

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The far right is on the verge of taking power in France for the first time since the Second World War after President Emmanuel Macron’s party lost badly in a snap election.

Paris

France snap election

French far-fight defeats Macron's centrists

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from Mea She’arim in West Jerusalem are protesting against conscription in the Israeli military. They prefer imprisonment over military service following the High Court's decision to end their exemptions.

Jerusalem

Ultra-Orthodox Jews rally against military service

Hurricane Beryl has become an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to bring life-threatening winds and flash flooding to the Caribbean's Windward Islands as it rapidly strengthens into Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.

Hurricane Beryl strengthens to Category 4 storm

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London

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Spanish police say they've called off a search for a British teenager who went missing on the Canary island of Tenerife, though the case remains open. His phone was last traced to a steep and rugged ravine on the island.

Tenerife

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At least three women are dead and dozens more injured after a Greyhound bus crashed into a caravan on the Bruce Highway at Gumlu, south of Townville. The bus was carrying 33 passengers.

Gumlu

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U.S. Presidential Election