Biden accepts he is 'not a young man', but vows to remain in 2024 race for White House

Hours after his disappointing performance in the United States presidential election debate, President Joe Biden slammed those who criticised his age.

In his fiery speech, he vowed to his supporters that he would win re-election in November amid rising concerns over his candidature among the Democrats.

"I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," Biden, said during a rally in North Carolina on Friday (June 28), a day after he struggled to debate with his Republican rival Donald Trump.

"I don’t walk as easy as I used to... I don’t debate as well as I used to," he conceded. "But I know what I do know, I know how to tell the truth [and] I know how to do this job," he said.

“I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. I know what millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up,” Biden said.

The 81-year-old president said that “as a Biden that I wouldn’t run again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I could do this job", amid the crowd chanting “four more years” and “Yes you can!” in Raleigh.

Biden, repeating a line from the presidential debate, said, “I spent 90 minutes on a stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat. I think he [Trump] set a new record for the number of lies told at a single debate.”

Trump calls Biden 'grossly incompetent', hails his 'big victory' in debate

Speaking at a rally in Virginia, Trump hailed his "big victory" in the debate and called Biden 'grossly incompetent'.

“Did anybody last night watch a thing last night called a debate? That was a big one. But as you saw on television last night, we had a big victory against a man that is really looking to destroy our country,” said Trump.

“Despite the fact that crooked Joe Biden spent the entire week at Camp David resting, working, studying; he studied very hard, he studied so hard that he didn’t know what the hell he was doing," he added.

“Joe Biden’s problem is not his age; it’s not his anything really, he’s got no problem other than it’s his competence, he’s grossly incompetent. You know, they keep saying old, I know people that are much older than him that are doing unbelievable things,” the former president said.

Barack Obama weighs on Biden's performance, says 'bad debate nights happen'

Former president Barack Obama also weighed in on Biden’s debate performance. Taking to X, Obama said, “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know."

Watch:Gravitas | Will Biden be replaced as presidential candidate? Democrats secretly mull options

“But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November,” he added.

New York Times Editorial Board asks Biden to quit the race

The New York Times Editorial Boardhas appealed to Biden to quit the race for the White House and make way for a more competent Democrat leader.

“The presidentappeared on Thursday nightas the shadow of a great public servant. He struggled to explain what he would accomplish in a second term. He struggled to respond to Mr. Trump’s provocations. He struggled to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his lies, his failures and his chilling plans. More than once, he struggled to make it to the end of a sentence,” wrote the Board.

“The greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election,” the Board said.

The Board stated there are Democratic leaders who can be “compelling and energetic” opponents to Trump.

(With inputs from agencies)