United States President Joe Biden has pledged to stay in the presidential race, despite media reports he was assessing an exit following a dismal debate showing against his Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump, last week.

The New York Times and ABC News both reported that Biden had told allies that the next few days will be significant in recovering his standing, although sources speaking to both outlets stressed that he wanted to continue.

Biden was resolute when he joined a call with campaign staff on Wednesday, despite growing concern about the 81-year-old’s viability in the race in November against Trump, including from members of his own party. “I am running,” Biden said during the call, two sources told the Reuters news agency. He added he would not be pushed out as the Democratic Party’s nominee.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre later echoed the sentiment in comments to reporters, saying that Biden was “absolutely not” considering stepping down. Jean-Pierre was responding to a slate of reports in US media that Biden had told confidants that he was aware his candidacy had suffered in the wake of his performance in his first live face-off with Trump of the election cycle.

At 78, Biden was the oldest person ever sworn into the US presidency following his victory in the 2020 election over Trump. A second victory would see him leave office at the age of 86. If Trump were to win in November, he would also be 78 when he enters office for his second term. Concerns about Biden’s age have stoked disquiet among some members of the Democratic Party for months in advance of the primary elections, but questions were often met with a shrug from Biden and his team.