Trump-Biden showdown intensifies in wake of assassination plot speculations US analysts delve into escalating rivalry

Those who have been demanding change in the way President Biden and his team are running this campaign got their wish, The Washington Post's article says. For better or worse, after half a century as an insider, he’s positioning himself as an outsider. And he’s running not just against Donald Trump but also against Democratic Party "elites" and nervous commentators who say he’s too old.

On July 8, as members of Congress returned to Washington after a recess — with both chambers gathering in person for the first time since Biden’s disastrous debate performance — the president launched an early-morning preemptive strike. He sent a tough, get-out-of-my-face letter to congressional Democrats, reminding them that more than 14 million primary voters across the country chose him as their nominee.

"It was their decision to make," Biden wrote. "Not the press, not the pundits, not the big donors, not any selected group of individuals, no matter how well-intentioned."

Minutes later, Biden called into MSNBC’s "Morning Joe," a venue where Democrats regularly gather for water-cooler conversations. Once again, the president asserted that the debate was nothing more than "a bad night." In the aftermath, he said, he has spent the past 10 days holding campaign events and working rope lines to take the temperature of the party’s rank and file.

"I wanted to make sure I was right that the average voter out there still wanted Joe Biden, and I’m confident that they do," he said. "I am not going anywhere."

Asked about the donors, editorial boards and elected officials who have called on him to withdraw, Biden was defiant. "I don’t care what the millionaires think," he said. "They were wrong in 2020. They were wrong in 2022. … I’m not going to explain anymore about what I should or shouldn’t do. I am running."

Political analysts have often underestimated him in the past. Many questioned his ability to defeat Trump four years ago, and even more anticipated a Republican "red wave" in the midterm elections, only to see a modest outcome that left GOP strategists disappointed. Biden led the Democrats to a string of victories and results that exceeded expectations.

Yet, as investment disclaimers remind us, past performance is not indicative of future outcomes. Can Biden defy a significant faction of his own party and secure reelection? What does the current landscape suggest? And how has the incumbent's position shifted since the attempt on Trump's life?

These questions were addressed by American experts in an interview with Caliber.Az.

Political analyst John Varoli expressed his stark views on the matter:

"People in our country are deeply apprehensive. Our media, even the conservative factions, are cautious in criticizing the White House. But I will speak plainly because it's evident — who stands to gain from 'taking out' Trump? It's clear he poses the biggest threat to Joe Biden. For eight years, Biden and the Democratic Party have been trying to neutralize the Trump factor, starting from late 2016.

"They've employed numerous tactics: through media manipulation, the debunked Russiagate, and conspiracy theories — all to no avail. They even resorted to what I believe was electoral fraud to snatch the White House in 2020. When they realized Trump could return, they launched a prosecutorial campaign reminiscent of Stalinist methods aimed at annihilating a political opponent—an unprecedented act in U.S. history," the political scientist asserted.

Contrary to their intentions, Varoli noted, these efforts have backfired — Trump's popularity has only surged due to these legal challenges.

"Now, they're left with one option—to eliminate him physically. It's evident who's behind this: Biden and the Democratic Party's oligarchs. I understand this may be difficult for many decent people to accept, but that's the reality. This isn't about my personal stance since I'm not a Trump supporter; I openly advocate for Kennedy. I'm simply seeing through the situation. The assassination attempt was Biden's last-ditch effort to secure victory in November. But now, he's out of chances. Even if they attempt rigging, it won't succeed. If Trump survives until the election, he will win. However, the oligarchs will still prevent him from entering the White House.

"I predict Biden will withdraw from the race within the next two weeks, and Kamala Harris will become the Democratic nominee. She won't win either — Trump will defeat her — but they won't allow Trump to assume office alive. The inauguration will proceed in January. I'm curious about who Trump's VP nominee will be because he'll be the next U.S. president. Nikki Haley, favoured by the 'deep state,' or possibly Vivek Ramaswamy, are potential candidates. Nonetheless, I'm certain the Democratic Party will remove Biden from the presidential candidacy soon," Varoli concluded.

Political analyst, publicist, and professor Grigory Ioffe highlighted the evolving dynamics post the assassination attempt on Trump, suggesting a shift in favour of Trump due to his miraculous survival:

"The day before, and even just a few days prior, it was increasingly clear that Biden's chances of winning the election were diminishing. The resurgence of discussions about his senile dementia, which the press had avoided for some time, has coincided with recent polls showing Trump leading in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, and now even Virginia — a traditionally Democratic state due to its significant population in northern Virginia, home to many Washington workers. Even in states like New Jersey, Trump is nearly neck-and-neck with Biden. Thus, concerns over Biden's cognitive health have not yet significantly impacted electoral outcomes—otherwise, Biden wouldn't have won in 2020 despite progressing along this path," emphasized Professor Ioffe.

The influence shaping Biden's policies, according to the analyst, revolves around catering to two main groups:

"His administration essentially caters to two influential groups. Firstly, there are the radical leftists, akin to neo-Marxists, who have replaced the industrial proletariat of classical Marxism with minorities — racial and sexual minorities — as victims. They have introduced racial quotas for workplace promotions, admissions to prestigious universities, and more."

"Secondly, there are the globalists. It's important to distinguish 'globalists' from the objective process of globalization, which deepens territorial labour specialization and interconnections. However, these 'globalists' are control-freaks who believe in supervising every square centimetre of the globe day and night on behalf of the military-industrial complex, pharmaceutical companies, and finance capital (Wall Street)."

"These two groups form the backbone of Biden's policy, which has resulted in tangible and visible effects, particularly evident in American cities. The failure and negative reception of this policy have contributed to shifts where more people now favour Trump," the analyst concluded.

Regarding Trump, the analyst acknowledged his controversial nature but noted:

"Trump, despite his flaws, symbolizes for many a partial return to sanity across various aspects of domestic politics."

The discussion also touched on Biden's precarious political position:

"The situation has turned increasingly unfavourable for Biden, especially with issues like the deliberate influx of illegal immigrants at the southern border under his administration's watch. There is speculation about whether it's time for him to suspend his campaign. Despite his determination to continue after a lifetime of pursuing the presidency, pressure from powerful figures within his party like Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and the Clintons could force him out if polls don't show improvement in his favour."

"If Biden cannot run in November, questions arise about his presidency in general — how can he endure until then, and who would then lead the country? These uncertainties highlight the Democratic Party's current predicament, which may worsen," Ioffe summarized.