President Joe Biden is set to hold a crucial news conference on Thursday, following a challenging debate performance that led to calls for him to consider stepping aside as the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee. Many political observers believe this event is pivotal for Biden to demonstrate his capacity to lead and win against Republican nominee, Donald Trump, in the upcoming election. Biden has defended his stance, attributing his poor showing in the debates to an isolated incident and not a reflection of his mental acuity. The outcome of this news conference could potentially sway opinions within his party regarding his candidacy.

The news conference is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday and will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, close to the White House and the NATO summit venue. While the White House will stream the event, major television networks may also interrupt their regular programming to broadcast Biden’s address live. The attention surrounding this event is expected to draw a significant audience similar to his previous public appearances.

Despite past controversies where questions were allegedly shared in advance, it is not common practice for the president to be briefed on specific questions before press conferences. Biden’s team is preparing him for a range of topics likely to be raised by journalists, including inquiries about his fitness for office and the ongoing NATO summit discussions. The number of questions Biden will field is uncertain, as he has not frequently engaged in standalone news conferences.

Following the news conference, Biden will resume his campaign activities with a visit to Michigan on Friday and an interview with NBC scheduled for Monday. The focus now shifts to how effectively Biden addresses the public and media during this pivotal moment in his candidacy.