According to a report from the New York Times, US President Joe Biden is "seriously considering withdrawing" from the presidential election race.
The publication reported Wednesday that Biden told a key ally that he is aware he may not be able to salvage his candidacy if he is unable to convince the public that he is up for the job over the next few days.
It follows a disastrous performance from the president in last week's first presidential debate against presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
The NYT said Biden's ally emphasized that Biden is still "deeply in the fight for re-election." However, the president is said to have acknowledged that his next few appearances must go well.
If correct, the conversation would represent the first sign to the public that the president is considering whether he is able to recover from a poor showing on the debate stage in Atlanta on Thursday.
There have been significant concerns regarding his his viability as a candidate and whether he could serve as president for another four years.
Furthermore, the NYT said a top adviser to Biden, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told them that the president was "well aware of the political challenge he faces."