President Biden said he's "not going anywhere" and took a swipe at former President Trump during remarks before service members and military families who had gathered at the White House for a Fourth of July barbecue.
Biden spoke for about four minutes, then made some unscripted remarks at a barbecue for active-duty military service members and their families outside the White House.
“I was in a World War I cemetery in France, and [...] the former president, didn't want to go and be up there. Which I probably shouldn't have said,” Biden said during his remarks, prompting a murmur of laughter.
“Anyway, we gotta just remember who the hell we are. We're the United States of America,” Biden continued.
Biden took a similar dig at Trump during the first presidential debate last Thursday, referencing a 2020 report in The Atlantic that alleged the former president disparaged service members as “suckers” and “losers,” which Trump denies.
A supporter then yelled to Biden, "Keep up the fight. We need you," and the president replied, "You got me, man. I'm not going anywhere."
The president’s public events have been heavily scrutinized since last week’s first presidential debate, where he appeared to lose his train of thought, forget words and stare off into space at points.
While the party has largely coalesced behind Biden, three House Democrats have called on the president to drop out of the race since Tuesday.
His team has conceded the performance was poor but has pushed back strongly on calls for him to step aside, saying he's focused on beating Trump.
Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet as Biden battles for his political future.
First lady Jill Biden, a college professor, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delivered remarks before Biden addressed the crowd.
“I got in trouble for saying this years and years ago, but I make no apologies for it. We have many obligations as the government but only one truly sacred obligation, sacred: prepare those we send into harm's way and to care for them and their families when they come home and when they don't their families,” Biden said.
“We're all part of a long chain of patriots that stretches back to our nation's founding, that's given life to the very idea of America,” he added.
