According to reports from PUNCH, United States President Joe Biden has emphatically declared that only the "Lord Almighty" could convince him to quit the 2024 presidential race.
The 81-year-old incumbent, who is seeking a second term after a shaky performance in last month's debate with former President Donald Trump, dismissed concerns over his age and mental fitness, insisting he remains the most qualified candidate to lead the nation.
"I don't think anybody is more qualified to be president or win this race than me," Biden told ABC News in an interview on Friday.
Some US voters, political analysts and stakeholders have expressed concerns over Biden's health and mental alertness after his widely-panned debate showing against Trump on June 27.
However, the White House has firmly rejected any suggestion that the president is considering stepping aside, and Biden himself doubled down on his determination to seek a second term.
"I mean if the Lord Almighty came down and said, 'Joe, get outta the race', I would get outta the race. The Lord Almighty's not coming down. I mean, these hypotheticals," he said defiantly.
Biden, who would be 86 years old at the end of a second term, brushed off criticism that he is too old to continue in the nation's highest office.
"Look, I'm running again because I think I understand best what has to be done to take this nation to a completely new level. We are on our way. We are on our way," he asserted.
The president also pointed to his record in office, including the creation of 15 million jobs and the erasure of student debt for five million Americans, as evidence of his continued vigor and capability.