President Joe Biden on Monday called for an “end” to speculation over whether he would step down as Democratic nominee amid concerns over his age.
In a two-page letter addressed to Democrats, Mr Biden urged the party to focus on defeating likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the November election.
“The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it's time for it to end,” he wrote.
“We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump.”
He added: “We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election.
“Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”
A handful of House of Representatives Democrats have called on Mr Biden, 81, to step down from the 2024 presidential race following a disastrous debate performance against Mr Trump on June 27.
Democrat lawmakers have also raised concerns over Mr Biden’s poor public approval ratings, while recent opinion polls have given Mr Trump the lead in key swing states.
“I do not believe that the President can effectively campaign and win against Donald Trump,” Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig said in a statement on Saturday.
She added that there was “too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency” and called for Mr Biden to step aside to allow “for a new generation of leaders to step forward”.
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said the president faces a “really critical week”.
“And let’s just be honest: I think there are still questions out there in the minds of many voters,” he told CNN.
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Mr Biden told MSNBC on Monday that “average Democrats” wanted him to stay in the race and that he was “frustrated” by calls from his party colleagues to step aside.
“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” he said.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published last week found that one in three Democrat voters believed that Mr Biden should quit the race, with 59 per cent of respondents in the President's party saying he is too old to work in government.
The Democrats will formally announce their 2024 presidential candidate at the party’s national convention in Chicago in August.
Vice President Kamala Harris is seen as the likeliest successor should Mr Biden step aside.
Republicans are set to confirm Mr Trump as their candidate at the party’s convention next week.
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