It underlined the collective failure of Democrat leaders to understand the Trump phenomenon and its hold on what Hillary Clinton once dismissed as the "basket of deplorables."
Biden represents a bygone era of politics where the US felt a moral obligation to maintain a postwar order and bipartisanship wasn't sneered at. The party needs to work out what it stands for: it's lost support on the left over Gaza and on the right over concerns about the border and identity politics.
The Republican Party has been swallowed up by Trump's "America First" agenda and after dodging an assassin's bullet, he started to look unassailable.
Now top Democrats are investing their hopes of stopping him in Kamala Harris, Biden's largely untested vice president, who'll need to see off any potential challenge at next month's party convention.
Assuming she does, then Harris and her party will have less than three months to convince voters to choose her over Trump. Flavia Krause-Jackson
Harris and Biden at the White House in May 2023. Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg
Global Must Reads
Biden's team is signaling he's not nearly done with foreign policy. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the president had restored US global leadership and "I look forward to building on that record with him over the next six months." That was an unmistakable message that the administration has no intention of letting up on efforts to broker an Israel-Hamas peace deal and aid Ukraine against Russia.
Harris is Biden's obvious heir, a remarkable turn for a politician whose unpopularity was viewed as a key reason why he initially sought a second term. The daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, Harris has strong appeal with crucial Democratic voting blocs as the first woman of color to be US vice president. Now the big question is who she'll ask to join her on the ticket.
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is weighing whether to rejoin the Democratic Party to vie for its presidential nomination, according to his former communications director. Jonathan Kott said the senator, 77 next month, is "seriously considering" running for president as a Democrat, the first elected official to express interest in challenging Harris for the party's nomination.
Biden pointedly withheld a White House invitation to Benjamin Netanyahu for more than a year. Yet, as Israeli warplanes continue attacking Gaza, he's due to receive the prime minister in the Oval Office tomorrow, and the Israeli leader will address Congress. It's a visit seen by many — including European and Arab allies — as a potent symbol of Biden's declining ability to impose his will on the world.
The damaged UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees building in Gaza City on July 12. Photographer: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images
The US election became a trending topic on Chinese social media, with the "Biden exit" hashtag viewed 370 million times by noon on the X-like Weibo platform. An online poll of 12,000 Weibo users found nearly 80% believed Trump would beat Harris, according to results posted by the Shanghai-based Morning Post five hours after the question was posed.
Finance and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 are on track to issue a consensus document about key economic themes at the end of their meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
Just over two weeks into the job, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is facing growing demands to raise pay for public sector workers and eliminate an unpopular Conservative cap on child benefits.
Mexico's president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum blasted Trump for his "rude" language after he gave a speech recounting his past negotiations with incoming economy minister Marcelo Ebrard.
Washington Dispatch
The House returns to Capitol Hill today with lawmakers of both parties focusing on the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, and what that violent and shocking act might mean going forward in an already tumultuous election year.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is to testify before the Oversight and Accountability Committee, certain to face question after question as to how the gunman eluded detection until he was within range of the former president.
Her boss, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, has been subpoenaed by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green "for documents and information regarding the failed security efforts surrounding" the attempted assassination.
Mexico's president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum blasted Trump for his "rude" language after he gave a speech recounting his past negotiations with incoming economy minister Marcelo Ebrard.
Washington Dispatch
The House returns to Capitol Hill today with lawmakers of both parties focusing on the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, and what that violent and shocking act might mean going forward in an already tumultuous election year.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is to testify before the Oversight and Accountability Committee, certain to face question after question as to how the gunman eluded detection until he was within range of the former president.
Her boss, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, has been subpoenaed by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green "for documents and information regarding the failed security efforts surrounding" the attempted assassination.