Biden makes his first public appearance since withdrawing from presidential race
US President Joe Biden made his first live statement since dropping out of the presidential race, speaking by phone to a crowd of campaign workers in Wilmington, Delaware.
This is reported by the Daily Beast.
"I know yesterday's news (about withdrawing from the presidential race - ed.) was unexpected and hard for you to hear, but it was the right decision," Biden said by phone as he is being treated for COVID.
He added: "The name has changed at the top of the ballot, but the mission hasn't changed at all. And by the way, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to campaign with her, with Kamala."
Biden also emphasized how important it is for him, as before, to defeat Donald Trump.
"I will not be on the electoral list, but I will still be fully, fully involved," he emphasized.
In addition, the US President promised that he would do everything necessary to support Harris. He remained on the phone as Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, introduced his wife.
"I'm watching you, baby. I love you," Biden said as Harris began to speak, as she put her hands over her heart in response.
The publication also notes that the public speech also served as proof that Biden is alive, since after the decision to withdraw from the 2024 campaign, many speculated that the President could be incapacitated or even dead.
But Biden's call on Monday appeared to confirm that Biden is fine, as Harris's new campaign projected an image of unity and energy.
A little more than 24 hours after Biden ended his campaign, new "Harris for President" posters, as well as the California state flag, could already be seen on the walls. But Harris confirmed that some things won't change: Harris announced that she will keep Biden's campaign manager, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, and his chief of staff, Jen O'Malley Dillon, at the helm of her organization.
The highlight of Harris' speech was when she talked about her experience as California's attorney general and as a prosecutor in court.
"In these positions, I took on criminals of all kinds," she said, causing laughter in the audience. – "Criminals who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Con artists who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me out when I say I know the type of Donald Trump."
Harris used her first campaign stop to promise to build a middle class, talk about voting rights and gun control, and warn against Project 2025. She also promised that if Congress passes legislation restoring reproductive rights, she will sign it.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, US President Joe Biden, who previously contracted the coronavirus and was in self-isolation, is returning to work at the White House on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the team of Kamala Harris announced a historic record of fundraising for her campaign in one day - the amount reached USD 81 million.
A CNN source also told that American singer Beyoncé, who is known for following strict rules regarding permissions for the use of her music, gave permission to the team of US Vice President Kamala Harris to use the song "Freedom" during the presidential campaign.
It will be recalled that on July 21, Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race, in which Donald Trump was supposed to be his opponent.