Obama and Nancy Pelosi concede it's 'hard' for Joe Biden to defeat Trump at US election

Biden, 81, defiantly fired back against his critics to assure Democratic supporters he will take on his predecessor later this year.

However, Democrats are “begging” either Obama or Pelosi to help quell the infighting.

The total number of House Democrats who have called on Biden to quit is now 17, with three more slamming the 46th President after his gaffe-filled post-Nato news conference on Thursday.

Biden appeared to mix up Volodymyr Zelensky with Vladimir Putin and Kamala Harris with Donald Trump.

Obama, who won in 2008 and 2012 with Biden as his running-mate, knew Democrat-supporting actor George Clooney was penning an article calling on Biden to quit in the New York Times.

Pelosi reportedly said: “I want him to do whatever he decides to do. Whatever he decides, we go with.”

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The former House Speaker also supposedly warned Biden cannot defeat Trump, Politco has claimed.

Despite the public turning towards Trump following last month’s debate, opinion polls suggest Biden remains better placed than Harris to take on the ex-President.

JL Partners revealed that 47 per cent of voters currently support Trump, with just 42 per cent backing Biden.

However, Trump's vote share increases to 49 per cent against Harris, with the Vice President slumping to as low as 38 per cent.

Dropping out of the 2024 race at this stage would see Biden become the first Commander-in-Chief since Lyndon B Johnson to not seek re-election.

Grand Old Party insiders also believe Trump’s chances of returning to the White House have improved since Biden’s latest blunder.

A Republican strategist, who was previously critical of Trump’s chances, told GB News: “Trump, as it stands now, will beat Biden.

“Biden had yet another disastrous conference last night with Nato. It was awful.”

Trump also posted a series of updates on his social media platform Truth Social laying into his White House successor.

“Crooked Joe has a case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” the 45th President wrote.

Despite calls for the 46th President to step aside, Biden defiantly reassured Democrats he would take on Trump later this year.

In a letter to Democratic figures in Washington, the 81-year-old wrote: “I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.”

Biden added: “I can respond to all this by saying clearly and unequivocally: I wouldn't be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”

Biden separately claimed losing is “not an option” and stressed he is getting “frustrated by elites” in the Democratic Paty calling for him to quit.