The effort to replace President Biden as the Democratic Party's 2024 nominee is "over" following the assassination attempt against former President Trump. Biden's allies say the momentum is lost, according to a new report.
Democratic lawmakers and top donors had urged Biden to drop out last week. Now, the assassination attempt on Trump life has silenced Biden's critics.
"I think it’s over," one ally told NBC News. "You just lose all momentum."
"They had a very bad political day, then this supernova event happened. Now, it’s frozen," a Democratic strategist told NBC. "It's hard to tell the old man it’s time to go publicly now."
President Biden speaks in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, condemning the violence and praying for Trump and his family. "I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania," Biden said. "I’m grateful he’s safe. I’m praying for him and his family."
Biden thanked the Secret Service and emphasized that there's no place for such violence in America. "We must unite as one nation to condemn it."
Biden later spoke to Trump over the phone, but details are unreleased. He also spoke with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy.
Biden's campaign quickly canceled plans for ads attacking Trump. Staffers were told to "refrain from issuing any comments on social media or in public," according to NBC News.
"It’s likely the effort to dislodge Biden has ended. He’s not going to step aside now," another Biden ally said. "Biden demonstrated he’s going to fight."
The assassination attempt happened two days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump will be formally nominated.
The Democratic National Committee is pulling down ads from 57 municipal buses in Milwaukee, the site of the GOP convention.