Welcome to the news hour.

President Biden is facing growing calls from a handful of House Democrats

to step aside as the party's presidential nominee.

Earlier today in a rare cable news program call-in,

the president addressed his critics and

maintain that he was still the best person for the job. I'm getting so frustrated

but by the elite, now I'm not talking about you guys, but by the elite in the party who they know so much more.

But any of these guys don't think I should run against me.

Go and announce the president, challenge me at the convention.

Our congressional correspondent, Lisa De Jardan, and our White House correspondent,

Laura Barone Lopez join us now.

So Laura, President Biden is unwavering. He says he's not exiting this race.

Give us a sense of what more he's saying and the White House strategy here to calm nervous Democrats.

President Biden's message right now, Jeff, is that he's not going anywhere, and he sent a letter

to congressional Democrats today in which he said, quote, the question of how to move forward has

been well aired for over a week now

it's time for it to end any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead

only helps Donald Trump and hurts us and And what President Biden is saying publicly

is also what campaign aides are saying privately

to donors, to Democratic lawmakers,

to Democratic Party officials across the board.

And that's essentially that he was the only and that's essentially that he was

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