Former First Lady Michelle Obama will replace President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, US Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has predicted. Cruz claims Biden will be replaced at the Democratic National Convention in August, just three months before the election.

The prediction comes after the first presidential debate where Biden’s performance was widely criticised by political analysts and news organisations. Some strategists are reportedly discussing ways to replace Biden on the ballot.

Democrats are reportedly “panicked” and actively discussing replacing Biden on the ticket, citing his “hoarse and halting voice”, “unclear” answers and “struggle” to finish his thoughts, according to the NYT and Politico. Some are even “pushing for him to drop out of the race”,  and “replacing him on the ticket.”

Cruz shared his thoughts on his podcast, saying the Democratic Party will likely replace Biden with Michelle Obama due to his poor debate performance. “The odds are north of 80% that the Democratic Party will remove Joe Biden from the ticket and replace him with Michelle Obama because Biden did so disastrously badly tonight that Democrats across the country are in utter freefall and complete panic,” he said.

After the presidential debate on Thursday, leaders from both parties share their thoughts on social media. While Biden supporters attributed his poor performance to a cold, Republicans were more critical.

Nikki Haley, former presidential candidate, posted on X, “Mark my words… Biden will not be the Democratic nominee. Republicans, get your guard up!”

Mark my words….Biden will not be the Democrat nominee. Republicans, get your guard up!

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) June 28, 2024

Vivek Ramaswamy, a potential VP pick for Trump, shared a series of critical tweets about Biden’s debate performance. He suggested that the Democratic Party is using Biden as a “sacrificial lamb” and implied that they should replace him with a different nominee. 

The game is now more obvious than ever: the Democrat Party served up an old man as their sacrificial lamb tonight.

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) June 28, 2024

Meanwhile, former US President Barack Obama has come out in support of Joe Biden, urging Americans to remember the core values at stake in the election. “Bad debate nights happen, trust me, I know,” Obama said, downplaying Biden’s poor debate performance.

Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the…

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 28, 2024

He added that the election is still a choice between two fundamentally different candidates: one who has fought for ordinary people his entire life and another who only cares about himself.

After a poll revealed that Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, was the leading choice to replace President Joe Biden as the Democratic party’s candidate for the presidential elections, her office has revealed her stand regarding the upcoming presidential elections, as per a report in NBC News.

Michelle Obama has no intentions to run for President, even though many of her supporters are looking forward to this development. She is actively supporting the reelection campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.

In a statement to NBC News, the former first lady’s office made it clear that her plans do not include running for the post of President. Crystal Carson, Director of Communications for her office, said “As former First Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president. Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign.”

Meanwhile, Obama’s adviser cited her conversation with Oprah Winfrey from last year as evidence of her way of thinking and the reason she would probably never run for office. In a Netflix special, she said, “Politics is hard. And the people who get into it … you’ve got to want it. It’s got to be in your soul, because it is so important. It is not in my soul.”

Last month, she expressed deep fear about the upcoming elections, saying it “haunts” her. “The fact that people think that government-‘eh,, does it really even do anything?’ – and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, does government do everything for us, and we cannot take this democracy for granted.’ And I worry sometimes that we do. Those are the things that keep me up,” she had said.

It is to be noted nearly half of the Democrats who voted in the Rasmussen Reports polls, expressed their choice for someone other than Biden to fight the US Presidential elections. About 48 per cent of the Democrats polled said they approve of the party “finding another candidate to replace Joe Biden before the election in November,” compared to 38 per cent who disapprove.

Michelle Obama got about 20 per cent of votes among other options to replace 81-year-old Joe Biden. The other contenders were Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, celebrated their 31st anniversary on Tuesday. The couple, who have been married since 1992, took to their official social media accounts to share heartwarming words for each other. In his post, while Mr Barack shared a picture of him and his wife posing together while standing in front of a field, Ms Michelle shared an image of her and Mr Barack smiling together in what appeared to be a park. 

“Happy anniversary, sweetheart! @MichelleObama, you’re brilliant, kind, funny, and beautiful – and I’m lucky to call you mine,” Brack Obama wrote on Instagram. 

Take a look below: 

Michelle Obama, on the other hand, shared a message in the caption about how special their relationship is. “31 years, and a lifetime to go. I love going through life with you by my side, @BarackObama. Happy anniversary, honey!” she wrote.

In the comment section of their posts, internet users praised the couple and congratulated them on their latest milestone. “sooo beautiful!!!!!! may love continue to flourish all around u in every may!!!! Blessings!!!!!!!” wrote one user. “That’s love right there in human form! Happy Anniversary,” said another. 

“Happy Anniversary, my own people. I love y’all too much. More grace, more smiles, more love to the best couple in the world,” commented a third. “Happy Anniversary to you both you have reached a great milestone wishing you Gods richest blessings Enjoy your day,” added another. 

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According to The Independent, the couple tied the knot in 1992 and they went on to welcome two daughters – Malia and Sasha. 

Last year too, the pair shared similar tributes in honour of their 30th anniversary. They uploaded throwback pictures from their wedding day and they expressed their love for each other. “Miche, after 30 years, I’m not sure why you look exactly the same and I don’t. I do know that I won the lottery that day – that I couldn’t have asked for a better life partner,” the former US President wrote in the caption.

Ms Michelle, meanwhile, marked their 30th anniversary by sharing side-by-side photos of the couple at the beach and on their wedding day. “Happy anniversary to the man I love! These last 30 years have been an adventure, and I’m grateful to have you by my side. Here’s to a lifetime together. I love you @BarackObama,” she wrote.