Biden vows to fight on, as White House denies Parkinson’s treatment

In an interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe show later on Monday, Biden insisted that party elites, rather than “average Democrats”, are driving calls for him to quit the race.

United States President Joe Biden has again rebuffed calls to end his re-election bid amid concerns over his age and health, as the White House denied that he is being treated for Parkinson’s disease.

In a letter to Democratic Party lawmakers on Monday, Biden, 81, said he is “firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump”.

“I have heard the concerns that people have – their good faith fears and worries about what is at stake in this election,” Biden said in the letter.

“I can respond to all this by saying clearly and unequivocally: I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”

In an interview with MSNBC’s Morning Joe show later on Monday, Biden insisted that party elites, rather than “average Democrats”, are driving calls for him to quit the race.

“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think. They were wrong in 2020. They were wrong in 2022 about the red wave. They were wrong in 2024,” Biden said.