Kamala Harris on Monday delivered her first public remarks since Joe Biden announced that he would drop out of his reelection campaign, heaping praise on Biden’s “legacy,” and taking no questions.
She did provide a brief update on Biden’s health status.
“Our president Joe Biden wanted to be here today, he is feeling much better and recovering fast,” she said.
Biden has not been seen in public since he boarded a plane on Friday, and was whisked away to his beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware, after being diagnosed with COVID-19. He resigned the nomination in a written statement posted onto X, which was followed up by a subsequent post endorsing Harris.
As Biden’s X account is known to be controlled by White House staffers, many have been demanding more transparency on Biden’s condition and the events that led up to his decision to drop out of the race.
On Monday, Biden received his daily briefing, according to his official schedule, but the location of his briefing was not listed.
As late as Sunday morning, Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan that Biden was intent on staying in.
“I want to be crystal clear, he’s made a decision and that decision is to accept the nomination and run for reelection, win reelection,” Richmond said.
Harris’ X account, meanwhile, was already transitioning to “Harris for President.”
She announced on X that she would be heading later to Wilmington, Del. to meet with campaign staff.
“It’s the first full day of our campaign, so I’m heading up to Wilmington, DE later to say ‘hello’ to our staff in HQ,” she wrote. “One day down. 105 to go. Together, we’re going to win this.”
The de facto Democrat presidential nominee delivered her remarks Monday during an event on the White House lawn to celebrate National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship teams.
Harris lavished praise on Biden, saying his “legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history.”
Amid a tepid smattering of applause, she told the audience, “you may clap.”
“In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office,” she claimed, without evidence.
Harris added: “The qualities that Beau revered in his father are the same qualities I have seen every day in our president: His honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith, and his family is a big part of it and his love of country.”
Update:
Biden called into Harris’ new campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, while she and campaign staffers were having a meeting. Biden sounded tired, but tried to sound cheerful as he advised staffers to “embrace” Kamala, “she’s the best.”
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