A growing number of major liberal outlets have urged Biden to bow out of his re-election bid following his presidential debate last week. (Biden speaks at a rally in Virginia)
"It could have gone two or three hours," Newsom said of the meeting. "And I mean this with absolute conviction. That was the Joe Biden I remember from two weeks ago. That was the Joe Biden that I remember from two years ago. That's the Joe Biden that I'm looking forward to reelecting as president of the United States."
"Things did not go as well as the campaign had hoped, and obviously did not go as well as President Biden had hoped."
The aim of the meeting was to shore up support among the party’s top leaders and stave off diminishing confidence in Biden’s candidacy.
Among the Democratic governors who were planning to attend in person were Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, among others.
Newsom added he's been "going wherever" he's been asked by the administration, and doing "whatever task, large and small, because I believe in this man."
DESANTIS VS NEWSOM FACE OFF ON ABORTION, TRANSGENDERISM, WOKENESS AND MORE
Newsom insists he is not gunning to replace Biden. (Getty Images)
After Biden's lackluster performance during the debate against Trump, Newsom assured reporters in the spin room that he remained firmly behind Biden — who has faced significant criticism even from members of his own party for a lackluster performance.
"I will never turn my back on President Biden," Newsom said on Thursday in a comment that appeared designed to dispel rumors that he's running a shadow campaign. "I don't know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight, we have his back."
Newsom added: "I spent a lot of time with him. I know Joe Biden. I know what he's accomplished in the last three and a half years. I know what he's capable of. And I have no trepidations."
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Leading up to last week's first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, Biden's mental acuity became the center of political discourse last month after a bombshell Washington Journal report – which the White House dismissed – revealed that many lawmakers on Capitol Hill had questions about Biden's mental acuity after many said his aging was apparent in private meetings.
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.
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