Trump plays it cool while Democrats, media turn on Biden

Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has remained largely silent following his June 27 debate in which President Biden gave a halting performance – instead allowing fellow Democrats and the media to criticize or raise questions about Biden's age and mental acuity. 

In the days after the debate two House Democrats – Reps. Lloyd Doggett, of Texas, and Raúl Grijalva, of Arizona – have called for Biden to end his reelection bid, amid reports that donors are poised to stop contributing to the Biden campaign and Virginia Democrat Sen. Mark Warner is requesting a meeting with members of his conference to discuss Biden's path forward. 

“I don’t think anybody in the Trump campaign has ever said they want Biden off the ticket,” former Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski told the New York Times, said about the debate response by Trump and/or anybody else on Team Trump. 

In Trump's campaign stop in Virginia the day after the debate, the former president largely focused on what he considers Biden's failed policy issues.  

“Joe Biden’s problem is not his age; it’s not his anything,” said Trump, according to Slate.com. “He’s got no problem other than his competence. I know people that are much older than him doing unbelievable things, making a fortune.”

Meanwhile, Trump's Truth Social account has nearly gone dark, with only limited posts highlighting favorable polling data, a Fourth of July message, and a handful of endorsements. The lull in activity is uncharacteristic for Trump, who maintains a near constant social media presence.

Political observers have suggested Trump is laying low because at 78 he is only three years younger then Biden and/or that he prefers to face Biden rather than an alternative candidate. 

The Trump campaign declined to comment Friday about Trump's scaled-back social media presence and instead highlighted a post from the candidate in which he celebrated a Fourth of July address he made to veterans.

Trump has not been entirely inactive amid the nearly non-stop talk about whether Biden can survive the debate performance and resurrect his campaign. 

On Wednesday, Trump in a leaked video, while apparently playing golf, says about Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: “He’s quitting the race. I got him out of the race and that means we have Kamala. I think she’s gonna be better. She’s so bad. She’s so pathetic.

"Can you imagine that guy dealing with Putin and the president of China who’s a fierce person, who’s a fierce man? … He’s probably quitting.”

The next day Trump suggested he could put to rest concerns about Biden's cognitive ability by having a second debate – with fewer restrictions on participant conduct.

“Let Joe explain why he wants Open Borders, with millions of people, and many violent criminals from parts unknown, pouring into our once great Nation ... and so much more,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “It would also, under great pressure, prove his ‘competence,’ or lack thereof.”

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X.