In a rallying speech delivered on Friday, former US President Donald Trump dubbed Joe Biden as his most formidable opponent, raising doubts about the Democrats' strategy to keep Biden as the party's candidate. Trump's comments came in the wake of widespread criticism of President Biden's performance in the first presidential debate, which some see as an acknowledgment of Trump's victory.

During the rally held in Virginia, Trump not only reveled in Biden's perceived shambolic debate performance but also praised him as a better debater and more popular than any alternative. "It's hard to believe, but Crooked Joe Biden polls better than those people," Trump stated. He also quipped about Biden's apparent overpreparation for the event, sarcastically stating, "He studied so hard that he didn't know what the hell he was doing."

However, Trump's speech also reflected concerns among his campaign advisers that Biden's poor debate showing might force him out of the race. One adviser told NBC that it was "the sum of all my fears." Just a few weeks ago, Trump had expressed doubt about Biden's candidacy, suggesting that he might not be running come election time.

Critics have noted Trump and his team's attempts to downplay Biden's age, suggesting it is a strategic move to avoid him facing a younger, more electable candidate. "Democrats are in absolute disarray," commented Trump adviser Brian Hughes to NBC News. The concern seems to be rooted in the fear that the party may have made a mistake by selecting Biden as their candidate and now find themselves hesitant to trust Vice President Kamala Harris, a black woman, with securing a victory.

Observers speculate that these remarks reflect the growing anxiety within Trump's camp regarding the state of the Democratic Party. Trump, however, believes the issue lies not in Biden's age but rather in his competence. "It's not his age, it's his competence," Trump declared.

Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser, firmly asserted that Biden would not be stepping aside. "Biden's not going anywhere," he affirmed. The question now remains whether the concerns raised by Trump and his team will impact the Democrats' strategy moving forward.

As the race for the 2024 presidential election continues to unfold, political analysts are closely watching the developments within the Democratic Party and how they will address the challenges laid out by Trump and his supporters.