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Following his poor performance during last week's debates with Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden told 20 Democratic governors that he had a medical checkup after the event, Politico reported, citing people with knowledge of the discussion.
At an hour-long private meeting on Wednesday (3 June) evening, prompted by growing concerns over the president's health and political viability, Biden said that he had had a medical examination in recent days, assuring that he remained in good health, the people said.
A growing number of Democratic members of the US Congress are calling on Biden to step down as the party's candidate for the November presidential election after the debates between the two running candidates, citing concerns about his candidacy and his ability to win.
On June 27, Biden debated Trump at a CNN-hosted event in Atlanta. Biden's performance rekindled talks among Democrats about replacing him as the presidential nominee.
Prior to the event, the Democratic Party had allegedly privately discussed the possibility of replacing Biden with the wife of former US President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, in the election campaign, media reported. In early March, however, Obama's office dismissed the reports.
At age 81, Biden is the oldest president in US history and faced speculations about his physical condition and cognitive abilities.
The US presidential election is slated for November 2024. The main contenders expected on the ballot are Biden and Trump, who have both won enough delegates' votes to be their respective Democratic and Republican parties' presumptive nominees. Trump and Biden are set to debate again on September 10.
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