President Joe Biden is set to reassure his party on Thursday night as he hosts his first press conference since the contentious debate with former President Donald Trump.
The press conference will take place at the conclusion of the NATO Summit in Washington at 6:30 p.m. ET. It presents an opportunity for both critics and supporters to hear directly from the president and ask challenging questions.
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President Biden has faced criticism for his limited number of press conferences. According to data from the American Presidency Project, he has held 14 solo press conferences during his first three years in office.
Comparatively, former President Donald Trump held nine press conferences during the same time period, but conducted more television interviews. Former President Barack Obama held 29 solo press conferences in his first three years in office.
Allan Lichtman, a respected presidential historian, acknowledges the pressure on President Biden to perform well during Thursday evening’s press conference.
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Lichtman notes concerns about Biden’s age and ability to respond quickly, but criticizes Democrats calling for him to step aside. He emphasizes that debates typically have minimal impact on election outcomes and his prediction model still favors a Biden victory in November.
However, recent political analysis has shifted several key states to favor Trump in the upcoming election. The Cook Political Report has reclassified Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia from “Toss-up states” to “Lean Republican states” in recent days.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the accurate time for the news conference.
