‘I’m not going anywhere’: Biden stands firm in Michigan despite calls to drop out of race

US President Joe Biden held a rally in Detroit on Friday to revive his flagging re-election campaign, telling the cheering crowd that he would not drop out of the race and warning that Donald Trump posed a serious threat.

Before an enthusiastic crowd in Detroit, Biden warned of the potential consequences of a second term for Donald Trump, declaring: “You made me the candidate, no one else – not the press, not the pundits, not the insiders, not the donors. You, the voters. You decided. No one else. And I’m not going anywhere.”

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As the crowd in Detroit chanted “Don’t give up!” and “We’re behind you!”, Biden reiterated his determination to run for re-election and vowed to “shine a spotlight on Donald Trump” and what the Republican would do if he returned to the White House. He criticized a far-right political agenda of conservative think tanks that Trump has tried to distance himself from and listed several items on his own wish list for the first 100 days of his second term.

At the same school where then-candidate Biden positioned himself as a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders four years ago, the president made it clear he was not going anywhere.

“You made me the candidate, no one else – not the press, not the pundits, not the insiders, not the donors,” Biden said to applause. “You, the voters. You decided. No one else. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Despite Biden’s efforts to convince lawmakers, donors and voters of his ability to be president at age 81, concerns remain within the party about his candidacy and his prospects against Trump in November. So far, one Democratic senator and about 20 Democrats in the House have publicly called on Biden to resign.

During the rally, Biden criticized Trump’s business failures, specifically pointing to Project 2025, a proposal to restructure the federal government drafted by Trump’s allies and former officials that Trump has tried to distance himself from.

Biden’s campaign has acknowledged that his path to the White House is narrowing and is focusing on the “blue wall” states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania as the clearest path to victory. This strategy is reflected in Biden’s efforts to generate enthusiasm in Detroit and among its sizable black population, which could be crucial to his chances of winning in Michigan.