Biden to give prime-time address on decision to exit 2024 race | LIVE

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entirety after ABC News Tonight President Biden addressing the nation from the Oval Office the president's historic decision to withdraw from the race for the White House his goals for his remaining 6 months in office and his message tonight to a divided America ABC News live coverage begins right now the ABC News special President Biden the decision address to the nation the president speaking for the first time since exiting the race for the White House his hope to finish the job he started now reporting David mure good evening and thank you for joining us on this historic night we are just moments away from President Biden's Oval Office address to the nation for the first time he will speak to the American people about his very personal and likely wrenching decision to withdraw from the race for the White House we are told that he will argue in his words that the defense of democracy is more important than any title and he will outline his remaining six months in office pressure to drop out had been mounting for weeks following his alarming debate performance against Donald Trump the president revealing his decision Sunday in a letter addressed to my fellow Americans acknowledging quote I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down tonight's address a defining moment in his presidency passing the torch to vice president kamla Harris now the Democratic party's presumptive nominee the president will signal tonight he will now fight for his vice president let's listen to President Biden my fellow Americans I'm speaking to tonight from behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office in this Sacred Space I'm surrounded by portraits of extraordinary American Presidents Thomas Jefferson wrote The Immortal words that guide this nation George Washington who showed US presidents are not Kings Abraham Lincoln who implored us to reject malice Franklin Roosevelt who inspired us to reject fear I rever this office but I love my country more it's been the honor of my life to serve as your president but in the defense of democracy which is a stake I think is more important than any title I draw strength and I find joy in working for the American people but this sacred task of perfecting our Union it's not about me it's about you your families your futures it's about we the people we can never forget that and I never have I've made it clear that I believe America has had an inflection point one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine our fate of our nation and the world for decades to come America's going to have to choose between moving forward or backward between hope and hate between unity and division we have to decide do we still believe in honesty decency respect freedom justice and democracy in this moment we can see those we we disagree with not as enemies but as as fellow Americans can we do that does character in public life still matter I believe I know the answer to these questions because I know you the American people and I know this we are a great nation because we are good people when you elected me to this office I promise to always level with you to tell you the truth and the truth the sacred cause of this country is larger than any one of us and those of us who Cherry that cause cherishes so much a cause of American democracy itself must unite to protect it you know in recent weeks it's become clear to me I need to unite my party in this critical Endeavor I believe my record as president my leadership in the world my vision for America's future all merited a second term but nothing nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy that includes personal ambition so I've decided the best way forward is the pass the torch to a new generation that's the best way to unite our nation you know there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life there's also what time in a place for new voices fresh voices yes younger voices and that time and place is now over the next six months I'll be focused on doing my job as president that means I'll continue to lower cost for hardworking families grow our economy I'll keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights from the right to vote to the right to choose I'll keep calling out hate and extremist make it clear there is no place no place in America for political violence or any violence that ever period I'm going to keep keep speaking out to protect our kids from gun violence our planet from climate crisis that is the existential threat and I will keep fighting my for my cancer moonshot so we can end cancer as we know it because we can do it I'm going to call for Supreme Court reform because this is critical to our democracy Supreme Court reform you know I will keep working to ensure American remains strong secure and the leader of the Free World I'm the first president in this Century to report to the American people that the United States is not at War anywhere in the world we'll keep rallying a coalition of proud Nations to stop Putin from taking over Ukraine doing more damage we'll keep NATO stronger and I'll make it more powerful and more united than any time in all of our history I'll keep doing the same for allies in the Pacific you know when I came to office the conventional wisdom was that China would inevita would inevitably pass the United surpass the United States that's not the case anymore and I'm going to keep working to end the war in Gaza bring home all the hostages and bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war we're also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world you know we've come so far since my inauguration on that day I told you as I stood in that winter we stood in a winter of peril and a winter of possibilities parent possibilities we're in the grip of we were in the grip of the worst pandemic in the century the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War we came together as Americans we got through it we merged stronger more prosperous and more secure today we have the strongest economy in the world creating nearly 16 million new jobs of record wages are up inflation continues to come down racial wealth Gap as the lowest has been in 20 years we're literally rebuilding our entire nation Urban Suburban Rural and tribal communities manufacturing has come back to America we're leading the world again in chips and Science and Innovation we finally beat big Farm after all these years to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and I'm going to keep fighting to make sure we lower the cost for everyone not just seniors more people have health care today in America than ever before and I signed one of the most significant laws helping millions of veterans and their families who are exposed to toxic materials you know most significant climate law ever ever in the history of the world the first major gun safety law in 30 years today violent the violent crime rate is at a 50-year low we're also securing our border border crossings are lower today than when the pre Administration left office I've kept my commitment to appoint the first black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States of America I also kept my commitment to have an Administration that looks like America and be a president for all Americans that's what I've done I ran for president four years ago because I believed and still do that the soul of America was at stake the very nature of who we are was at stake and that's still still the case America is an idea an idea stronger than any army bigger than any ocean more powerful than any dictator or Tyrant it's the most powerful idea in the history of the world that idea is that we hold these truths to be self-evident we're all created equal and D our creat certain inalienable rights life liberty Pursuit of Happiness we've never fully lived up to it to this sacred idea idea but we've never walked away from it either and I do not believe the American people will walk away from it now just a few months the American people will choose the course of America's future I made my choice I made my views known I would like to thank our great vice president K Harris she experienced she's tough she's capable she's been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country now the choice is up to you the American people when you make that choice remember the words of Benjamin Franklin is hanging on my wall here in the O office alongside the bus of Dr King and Rosa Parks and say Chavez when Ben Franken was asked as he emerged from the the the convention going on whether the founders have given America a monarchy Republic Franklin response was a republic if you can keep it a republic if you can keep it whether we keep or Republic is now in your hands my fellow Americans has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a Stutter from Modest Beginnings in Scranton Pennsylvania Claymont Delaware one day sit behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States but here I am that's what's so special about America we are a nation of promise and possibilities of dreamers and doers of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things I've given my heart and my soul to our nation like so many others I've been blessed million times in return with the love and support of the American people I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you the great thing about America is here Kings and dictators do not rule the people do history is in your hands the power is in your hands the idea of America lies in your hands we just have to keep Faith keep the faith and remember who we are we're the United States of America and there's simply nothing nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together so let's act together preserve our democracy God bless you all may God protect our troops thank you a moment in history tonight President Biden in the Oval Office you heard him say there to the American people I rever this office I love my country more he talked about this being not about me it's about you it's about we the people he said we cannot forget that I never have he did ask this question he says does character in public life still matter as we head toward the November election and he said nothing should come in the way of saving preserving democracy in this country we do have our entire Powerhouse political team here tonight let's get right to ABC's chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce and Mary you had reported that this was a deeply personal decision it was closely held a very small group with him including his wife the first lady Jill Biden that he began to come to this decision Saturday night then on Sunday made it official calling the vi president informing her of his plan to step aside in the race uh then informing his immediate team then just one minute later sending out that statement to the nation my fellow Americans it started but tonight Mary he explained what he believes are the stakes in this election and he argued for himself that in the end President Biden believes that what is at stake here is actually larger than any title larger than even staying in the race himself David the president's saying he has given his heart and his soul to this country and he is doing that again by deciding to step out of this race listening to that speech it felt very much like Joe Biden's love letter to the country that he has devoted his life and his career to serving protecting and defending and you heard him say nothing can get in the way of saving our democracy including personal ambition you know when he decided to run back in 2020 he did it promising to be a bridge a transitional candidate to the Next Generation but when he announced his re-election he said he had to finish the job tonight he is making it clear that finishing the job means he needs to pass on the torch he needs to pass the Baton and help hamla Harris now win the White House saying now is the time for the Next Generation he is also of course making it clear his work is not done here he has six more months left in office he wants to use that time to help cement his legacy but David the thing that Joe Biden will likely be most remembered for is this very moment the way in which he is exiting this race he did it in many ways to preserve his legacy but David it will likely be the thing that ends up defying it well Mary I wanted to read you a statement moments ago that came in some color in fact if you will from inside the White House someone inside uh this circle the closed Circle who has spent time with the president and the family over the last few days the Biden family uh telling ABC News tonight that the only thing I can say is contrary to the reports I've heard there is no anger No Remorse with the Biden family there is only a deep sense of Pride and an enormous amount of gratitude and appreciation for the overwhelming recognition of Biden as a true patriot and historic defender of democracy and David I think that is a sentiment that is shared not only by the family but also by the staff here at the White House I can tell you that right now there are about 500 members of the president staff people who have devoted so much time and energy to this Administration and his fight for what the country can stand for they are now right now huddled in the state dining room in the East room watching these remarks alt together witnessing this history together David no question a difficult and challenging night for that team that has worked so closely with the president and uh even the Biden family themselves having U been able to get used to this decision over the evolution Saturday Sunday into early this week it still must be profound to have watched uh uh Jill watch her husband um and the rest of the family watch their father their grandfather deliver the news in that way tonight Mary thank you stay with us here I know our coverage is going to continue Mary's going to be back in just a moment but I do want to bring in our chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Carl John is really impossible to overstate here how wrenching this decision must have been you know this is a President Who for weeks we we saw it we reported it here he was determined to stay in this race even under growing pressure to step down from the campaign from some of the very uh Democratic leaders who were his Partners in getting elected in 2020 what have you learned about what the turning point was for President Biden in in eventually making this decision well well and David uh you know you could hear it in what he said tonight he believed that his record merited a second term he did not want to make this decision this was a decision that he was very much forced to make uh he did it there was nothing in that speech that suggested that he didn't believe that he could uh serve another four years nothing that suggested that his health would have gotten in the way he said he did it because of party Unity the party needed to be unified so in answer to your question a critical moment in all of this there are many critical moments but per perhaps most was a week ago Saturday uh when uh Chuck Schumer the Senate leader of course remember Joe Biden is a man of the Senate he spent most of his life serving in the Senate so when the Democratic leader of the Senate went to see him at reoboth Beach and as we first reported urged him uh to take this step in the name uh for his own good for the good of his party for the good of his country I'm told that at the end of that meeting Biden said to Schumer I need another week and the two men hugged and went on so it was exactly a week after that moment that Biden began the process of making that decision you heard Mary Bruce describe of deciding to get out of this race a decision he very much did not want to make and John those deeply personal words near the top of what he said he said the defense of democracy which is at stake I think is more important than any title yeah and he and he made the point he used the phrase inflection point that we're at an inflection point in our country where the decision we make now the things we do now will impact the course of history for many years to come I think that's almost certainly uh correct uh but in terms of Biden's Legacy the question will come will be what happens now does KLA Harris win in November if she doesn't people will look back at this moment and ask why didn't Joe Biden do it earlier that would be the case certainly uh come November if they do not win uh in this election John Carl I know you're staying with us over the course of the hour as well I wanted to also bring in ABC's Rachel Scott covered the campaign Trail both the Biden campaign and the Trump campaign and Rachel obviously uh as you heard John and Mary say there this is going to be a legacy defining moment for President Biden he's thrown his full support uh in recent days and again tonight in front of the American people behind his vice president kamla Harris you know he said back in 2020 that he wanted to be a bridge to the Next Generation Mar alluded to that and it would appear that that's exactly what he's now trying to do here tonight focus of his tonight President Biden is that bridge to the Next Generation he said tonight that it was time to pass the torch he called it the best way to unite the nation the president put it very bluntly he said that there's a time in place for long careers decades in politics and that there's a time in place for fresh voices fresh faces and he said that time and place is right now you know David as the president was speaking I thought back to how President Biden once introduced KLA Harris to the nation saying that he was thinking about all the brown and black little girls out there that was seeing a black and South Asian woman in a new way a way that they may have not ever seen before tonight KLA Harris the presumptive Democratic nominee becomes the first black and South Asian woman on a major a major party ticket David Rachel Scott with us here tonight for our coverage as well Rachel will'll see you shortly with President Biden's decision on Sunday you it was nothing short of a political earthquake the presidential race immediately upended the Biden campaign now the Harris campaign tonight two new National polls showing the race tightening already the Reuters ipsos poll actually has vice president Harris uh leading Donald Trump by two points another new poll out tonight showing Donald Trump's National lead shrinking Comm Harris getting closer to Trump in that poll obviously this is all still very early and it will all come down to the Battleground States so Mary Bruce tonight on how this race has changed and quickly for KLA Harris a whirlwind transition from Joe Biden's loyal number two to the new standard Bearer for the Democratic party their New Hope for defeating Donald Trump TR do we want to live in a country of Freedom compassion and rule of law or a country of chaos fear and hate it was just minutes after dropping out of the race that Biden anointed Harris his successor giving her his full support and endorsement and telling Democrats it's time to come together his campaign office becoming hers the president phoning in these marching orders I'm hoping you'll give every bit of your heart and soul that you gave to me to kamla and we've been haris then taking the mic but Biden still on the phone we love Joe and Jill we really do they truly are like family to us we and we everybody here to it's neutral I knew you were still there you're not going anywhere Joe I'm watching you kid I'm watching you kid I love you I love love you Jo the top Democrats in the country uniting behind her campaign within 48 Hours she had commitments from enough delegates to secure the nomination more than $100 million in donations pouring in and then she was off hitting the campaign Trail the path to the White House goes through Wisconsin her historic candidacy welcomed in Battleground Wisconsin by the biggest crowd of Dem rat has seen this cycle it's a her story moment correction a her story yes and she will make it with our help Harris reintroducing herself to America as a former prosecutor ready to make the case against Trump I took on perpetrators of all kinds Predators who Abused women frauders who ripped off consumers cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain so hear me when I say I know Donald Trump's type her early message aimed squarely at the middle class building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency because here's the thing we all hear with Wisconsin know when our middle class is strong America is strong as vice president Harris has been the administration's leading voice on an issue Democrats are counting on to energize voters in November abortion now at the top of the ticket she's doubling down Donald Trump former president handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn roie Wade well let me tell you something when I am president of the United States and when Congress passes a law to restore those freedoms I will sign it into law we are not playing around let's get back to Mary Bruce at the White House and Mary you were in Milwaukee you were inside that rally the vice president's first campaign rally as the top of the ticket now the presumptive nominee very different running for president than and running as the running mate can you describe for the audience tonight what you witnessed in that room any Evolution you might have witnessed in the vice president and the second part of my question is you know Comm Harris made it very clear that she believes she is uniquely qualified as a former prosecutor uh to make the case for the Democrats against Donald Trump yeah David she is in many ways now reintroducing herself to the American people as you mentioned you they know her as vice president as a running mate but as the top of a ticket that is a very different role and you felt that in that room yesterday the energy the enthusiasm was palpable and she also seemed different she is trying to lean into this obviously in a different way she is leaning into that history and experience of hers reminding everyone that yes she was the former Attorney General of California and she believes that she is uniquely qualified to prosecute the case against Trump she's also going to have to reintroduce herself personally to the American people I can tell you so many voters I talked to there yesterday especially women were extremely excited at the prospect of having woman finally in the white house but David we are going to have to watch closely over the coming weeks and days to see how she distinguishes herself how she may distance herself from the president she has inherited his campaign but so far the only real big difference is the messenger and how that message is being delivered before I move on to this uh all this talk about running mates obviously everyone's reading the tea leaves out there I wanted to ask you Mary about something you were telling us just a moment ago while that piece was playing on the air you actually at the end of the overall office address thought you had heard Applause coming from the White House David you might be able to hear it right now behind me massive Applause and cheering from what I gather are those hundreds of staffers who were watching that address uh in the residence right now and we heard what I know now is the president's voice saying hello hello hello as he walked into that space he is now greeting uh his staff who love him very dearly as you may be able to hear behind me watching very closely each and every word in that Oval Office tonight Mary thank you as I mentioned the speculation is growing over vice president Harris's short list of potential running mates Arizona Senator Mark Kelly of course a retired astronaut a veteran and married to former congresswoman Gabby gford and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro very popular in his home state a key battleground of course Pennsylvania you need to win the White House both are believed to be among the early favorites here so tonight Jonathan Carl is back with what we've learned so far about the potential contenders for running mate now that she has the support of enough delegates to lock up the Democratic nomination kamla Harris has her first big decision to make and she has to make it quickly choosing a running mate vetting of potential candidates has already begun sources briefed on the process say there are at least four elected Democrats under consideration including Josh Shapiro the popular governor of must win Pennsylvania Arizona Senator Mark Kelly an astronaut and husband of former congresswoman Gabby gords who survived an assassination attempt in 2011 Kentucky Governor Andy Basher a moderate and a rare Democratic governor in a red State and North Carolina governor Roy Cooper a moderate who has known Harris for some 20 years going back to when she was the Attorney General of California and he was the AG of North Carolina North Carolina is in play Donald Trump is obviously worried because he's coming to Charlotte today because he wants to try and and Shore up North Carolina and I believe I believe that we can win this state for for KLA Harris today Governor Shapiro reminded voters of just how important his state will be in November the road to the White House leads through Pennsylvania and listen it also doesn't take an expert to know the last two presidential races came down to a point or less I expect this race will be close as well and as Harris undoubtedly knows Shapiro himself won Pennsylvania two years ago in a 15-point landslide as for Kentucky Governor pasher he's been elected twice in a state dominated by Republicans and he's been showing he's ready to take on Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance offering something of a preview of a vice presidential debate JD Vance is a phony he he's fake I mean he first says that that Donald Trump is like Hitler and and now he's acting like he's Lincoln I mean the problem with JD Vance is he has no conviction but I guess his running mate has 34 Senator Mark Kelly from border state Arizona is a moderate with a more conservative approach to the issue of securing the Border perhaps the biggest issue for Republicans today ABC asked if he wanted to be Harris's running mate he didn't directly answer you know it's not about me what is important here is we have an opportunity uh in November uh to make a really a really important choice and the choice could not be more clear who should take this country into the f f i don't want to see us going back to the past it's a this is a choice between you know a prosecutor very experienced works really hard it's done a great job and a convicted felon really interesting to watch these potential contenders be interviewed almost hourly uh with each day that passes John Carl back with us tonight and John how soon could we see kamla Harris choose a running mate really soon David in fact the virtual roll call where uh the party is to at least under the current schedule uh to formally pick their nominees for president that'll be KLA Harris and vice president begins in a week one week and it ends on August 7th what I am told is the goal is to have it done have the choice done by August 7th that would give them just 2 weeks to complete a process that in any other presidential cycle usually takes a matter of a couple of months so at this point we think kamla Harris and her running mate will know the country will know by August 7th that's the plan right now David but we've never seen a running mate chosen on such a short timeline and John I don't want to put you on the spot you listed a number of potential contenders there what are your sources telling you about who they might be leaning toward on that list I I think that those four are at the top of list there are other names that certainly are being uh looked at uh but Josh Shapiro the governor of Pennsylvania uh gives kamla Harris the possibility if the uh if the research which undoubtedly they're doing right now shows to win the state of Pennsylvania if they think they can win Pennsylvania with Josh Shapiro I think that puts him right near the top of that list and you can say the same about Roy Cooper uh in North Carolina very key state but I think all four of those names uh mentioned uh you know are very much very actively under consideration all right John Carl with us again tonight John you know I'll likely ask you the same question again tomorrow night on world news I'll see you then in the meantime I want to bring in the former head of the DNC ABC News contributor Donna Brazil with me here tonight and uh Donna we all know uh we're all students of History here LBJ March uh 1968 telling the nation that he would not seek a reelection uh but this was different obviously this is much closer uh to election day hearing this message from the overall office in President Biden and in deeply personal terms tonight in modern American politics have you uh ever seen anything like this no I haven't David and look I've been a student of American politics since I was 9 years old when I worked on my first campaign to get a playground in my neighborhood back in Kenna Louisiana it's an emotional night for me David for obvious reasons uh Joe Biden has been one of those leaders in our country that have taken so so many people over the bridge his entire history and public service has been one of commitment to freedom and democracy and Justice and so for for many of us and those of us who have known Joe Biden for years I've known him for 37 years this sacrifice this ultimate sacrifice of given up power I asked one of my friends I said have you ever seen a man a man give his power give the torch to a woman and his bank and his bank chess I mean that's that's unusual but this is because Joe Biden has been an unusual type of President you talk about Lyndon Johnson you talk about the signing of the Civil Rights Act the Voting Rights Act the fair housing act the Head Start program and you talk about Joe Biden with building back a country that was on the brink so this is an amazing moment I know we have a tight timeline but the thing the president said tonight he talked about the joy he has in public service I am so grateful that I know such a human being who puts his country ahead of his party and who will pass this charch to a tremendous proven leader KLA Harris is ready she was ready on day one and Joe Biden when he selected her almost four years ago in August he knew he wanted somebody to be prepared for this moment she's she will meet the moment and I'm so proud to have known Joe Biden as a leader as a fighter and I'm going to help him over the next six months you know in watching this Oval Office address closely Donna I took note that this didn't seem to be a campaign speech tonight this was not a rally uh this was really it seemed a moment for the president to Define his decision uh in his own terms to explain why he believes the stakes are so great this moment for democracy he argued that's why he stepped aside in this race that this was larger than any title than than than himself uh essentially is what he came down to and what do you make of this ABC news reporting at this hour that the characterization of the Biden family these last couple of to days a source saying that's not exactly uh the true reflection of how they feel tonight that tonight they are uh gratitude is the word for so many people in this country pointing to Joe Biden now and calling him a patriot uh who stepped in when democracy needed it what a beautiful family um his sister I talked to his sister I stay in touch with the family I stay in touch with Dr Biden they're really a remarkable resource of Joy uh they're Fighters too I I love their spirit and when the president was getting just this hit and that hit the family stayed close and you know they just kept the the faith this is a wonderful wonderful phenomenal human being and I'm so glad that I've I know him and I'm going to help him but more importantly what you saw tonight and I hope every American especially the young people today I hope they can find joy and seeing what a real true public servant is all about he put his country first he said I want to do this for the country Donna Brazil with us uh tonight as well Donna thank you we're getting Republican reaction tonight here as well in fact uh former president Donald Trump was back on the campaign Trail tonight holding a rally in Charlotte North Carolina Trump has been attacking President Biden over his decision to withdraw from the race and he has now turned his attacks to vice president kamla Harris here again on that Rachel Scott tonight with the eyes of the world on the White House tonight in North Carolina Donald Trump plowing ahead with his campaign taking the stage for the first time since Sunday's political earthquake thank President Biden out of the race vice president KLA Harris now Trump's new opponent Camala Harris is unfit to lead she's unfit to lead she'll destroy our country in a year Trump who spent years attacking Biden Now quickly trying to recalibrate to focus on Harris zeroing in on her role in the administration Harris task with addressing the root causes of migration at the Southern border with all of the things they've done wrong everything the border the borders are oh the borders are when you look at how bad they are you say you know I like Trump but now I really like Trump cuz we don't want to go back but several Republican members of Congress now taking aim at Harris's identity as the first woman of color to serve as vice president labeling her a Dei hire shorthand for diversity equity and inclusion I think she was a Dei hire 100% she was a Dei hire sources tell ABC News news house Speaker Mike Johnson has privately warned Republicans to stop this is not personal with regard to kamla Harris and her her ethnicity or her gender have nothing to do with this whatsoever today in the New York Times Hillary Clinton writing of Harris I know she can defeat Donald Trump but Clinton adding I know a thing or two about how hard it can be for strong women candidates to fight through the sexism and double standards of American politics noting Harris will face unique additional challenges as the first black and South Asian women to be at the top of a major party's ticket and on social media Clinton showing this 2021 clip of Trump's running mate Senator JD Vance disparaging Harris for not having children we're effectively run in this country via the Democrats Bea via our corporate oligarchs by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too and it's just a basic fact you look at KLA Harris Pete Budaj AOC the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children Hillary Clinton's reaction what a normal relatable guy who certainly doesn't hate women having freedoms but here in North Carolina Trump supporters we spoke to say they're worried about the new excitement Harris could bring to the race do you think it could be more of a challenge for Trump that Harris is on the ticket yeah I do I think Harris will like I said I think this will bring new life into the party for the Democrats and looking at you know the last couple weeks or couple months especially to have everything's gone Haywire you know they're going try to find Unity in it and I think that you'll you know give them that lift really interesting to hear from Democrats and Republicans that they believe that kamla Harris whether you're going to support her or not is injecting new energy uh into this race Rachel I want to ask you about something that just came out moments ago this image I know you're read in on this apparently Donald Trump watching President Biden in the Oval Office a short time ago uh and what are you learning yeah David the former president wrapped up his rally here in North Carolina just minutes before President Biden gave this Oval Office address and the former president then got on his plane and these pictures floating around from his own campaign advisers of the former president watching President Biden give this speech from the White House even though President Biden is not even in the race anymore it is clear that he has been top of mind for Donald Trump for the last few days even though Biden has been out of the race Trump has been railing and attacking President Biden he has spent the last 600 days focused on this rematch with President Biden and now of course he's trying to readjust and focus on vice president kamla Harris that is proving to be a little bit of a challenge David well talk to us a little bit about that because today was the first time we actually saw Donald Trump since kamla Harris became his true opponent here now at the top of the ticket and he had said earlier this week on a call with reporters that you know now we've got to start all over essentially uh visibly frustrated that Joe Biden had stepped down from the race visibly frustrated he's been airing out his grievances about President Biden stepping aside in this race essentially saying that in his own words that he has to start all over again now with a new rival that he has to figure out a way to attack look Donald Trump wanted it to be President Biden especially given all of the questions about his mental Fitness and his age coming off of that debate where they believe that the president performed very poorly in that debate and so now they're trying to switch gears and try and test out new lines against vice president KLA Harris we know that this is something that the campaign had been bracing for for a number of weeks now clearly picking up on the cues and the growing pressure on President Biden to step aside but this is now their reality and they're Drilling in and trying to figure out their new attack on vice president KLA Harris David Rachel Scott with us here again tonight Rachel thank you of course the next president will face a number of world conflicts including the Israel Hamas War the president urging a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of all hostages of course President Biden vice president Harris and Donald Trump all three of them are expected to have meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while he's here in the US he addressed that joint meeting of Congress uh today in Washington protests on the outside in Washington a warm welcome inside let's bring in our chief Global Affairs correspondent Martha RIT co- Anor of this week and and Martha the next president also inherits not only the issues here at home the economy uh immigration abortion rights but these conflicts Israel Gaza Russia and Ukraine and of course Rising concern over China exactly David in fact uh today for what we believe is the first time us Jets NORAD Jets intercepted Chinese bombers and two Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska as far as we know that has not happened in recent times that was just off the coast of Alaska about 150 mile area on that Coastline so that is something that President Biden has certainly been briefed on but what he really has to do in these coming months is concentrate solely on being president because it can be a very vulnerable time if you are in fact a lame duck president the world will be watching our adversaries will be watching he also wants badly for that Gaza war to end and for the hostages to return home Benjamin Netanyahu did not mention a ceasefire today uh but we know that negotiations are are doing fairly well they believe they may be in the closing stages of that according to a Us official uh sadly we have heard that before and it hasn't happen but we have had many hostages released David Martha rit's with us tonight as well thank you as always when we come back on this ABC News special report tonight Terry Moran is standing by on the state of this race tonight the new polls The New National polls just out in the last 24 hours where does this race now stand between Donald Trump and kamla Harris the numbers have been eye opening we're also going to hear from Ryan prias tonight he was the former Chief of Staff to Donald Trump former head of the RNC on what the Republican party what Republican leaders are saying behind closed doors tonight what do they make of the new polls do they think KLA Harris is a formidable candidate we'll hear from the Republican side side and the state of this race these new numbers in just a moment here stay [Music] tuned struggling