Yesterday, President Biden met with world leaders in Washington for the 2024 NATO Summit while preparing for what White House officials called a “big boy” press conference later that evening.

The Summit and press conference was a key opportunity for Joe Biden to reassure democrat donors, politicians, and elites that he is up for the job after last week’s disastrous debate performance.

For some democrats, their worst fears were reconfirmed.

President Biden referred to Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy as ‘President Putin’ while introducing him to the podium at the NATO Summit. Biden also made another crucial gaffe during his press conference when he referred to Kamala Harris as, “Vice President Donald Trump”.

Aside from these gaffes, Biden appeared as his usual self. Slow, confused, and unable to form complete sentences without losing his train of thought.

As of today, 17 House Democrats and one Senate Democrat have called for Joe Biden to resign with a steady drumbeat continuing on Capitol Hill for democrat offices to issue statements in support of Biden’s withdrawal.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Rep. Ed Case (D-HI), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) have called for President Biden to resign.

Most notable from these names is Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut and Senator Peter Welch of Vermont. 

Rep. Himes serves as a ranking Democratic member in the House Intelligence Committee. Himes issued a statement after Biden’s press conference saying that, “The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump's MAGA authoritarianism”

Himes continued, “I no longer believe that is Joe Biden, and I hope that, as he has throughout a lifetime of public service, he will continue to put our nation first, and, as he promised, make way for a new generation of leaders.”

Sen. Welch of Vermont became the first Democratic senator to officially call on Biden to resign in a Washington Post op-ed.

Welch wrote that, “regular Vermonters are worried that he (Biden) can’t win this time, and they’re terrified of another Trump presidency.”

Biden remains steadfast, giving no indication he would consider dropping out.

Just hours before Biden’s press conference, one of his campaign officials told reporters that the president needs to drop out, stating, “He’ll never recover from this.”