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Joe Biden gives thumbs up & says he’s well as he’s seen for 1st time since dropping out & after negative Covid test
Biden phoned into Kamala Harris' campaign event on Monday
PRESIDENT Joe Biden has been pictured in public for the first time since ending his reelection bid as he returns to the White House.
, who had been out of the public eye since his Covid-19 diagnosis on July 17, gave reporters a thumbs up before he departed Dover Air Force Base in Dover, , on Tuesday.
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The president, 81, left isolation in Delaware after testing negative for six days after he was sidelined with the virus.
As Biden stumbled out of an unmarked black SUV, reporters pressed him with questions about his health, to which he replied he was "feeling well.";
Biden slowly scaled the steps of Air Force One and gave a thumbs up and a salute before entering the aircraft.
The president is expected to make the trip back to and return for duty at .
President Biden is expected to address the nation on Wednesday evening about his decision to abandon his 2024 campaign.
The sighting marked the first time Biden was seen in public since he formally handed over the mantle to on Sunday when he endorsed her for the Democratic presidential nomination.
This comes as:
- Disgraced Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following the widespread backlash over her agency's failure to protect Donald Trump from an assassination attempt on July 13.
- Biden applauded Cheatle for her "selfless" dedication.
- Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas appointed Ronald J. Rowe as acting Secret Service Director in the wake of Cheatle's resignation.
- President Biden announced he plans on assigning a new Secret Service director soon.
- Reports circulated that top Democrats conducted an 'elaborate, well-orchestrated' plan to oust Joe Biden and halt his reelection efforts.
- Part of the plan was allowing Biden to debate Donald Trump, according to the New York Post.
- Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris gives a speech in Wisconsin.
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The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn't changed at all.
Joe Biden
President Biden made a surprise call to ' campaign event in Delaware on Monday, marking his first comments since dropping out of the race.
Biden reassured his former campaign staff that he plans to complete his term as president after his shocking decision on Sunday blindsided White House officials.
"I'm not going anywhere," Biden told campaign staffers, who have shifted their focus on Harris' crusade.
"I know yesterday's news was surprising and hard for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do.
Kamala Harris secures enough delegates to win presidential nomination and vows to 'unite nation' and defeat Trump
"I know it's hard because you poured your heart and soul into me to help us win this thing."
Biden praised his vice president and urged his staffers to rally behind her campaign.
"The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn't changed at all," Biden added.
"And by the way, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to be out there on the campaign with her, with Kamala.
"I'm going to be working like hell, both as a sitting president getting legislation passed as well as campaigning.
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"You know, we still need to save this democracy, and Trump is still a danger to the community. He's a danger to the nation."
Biden did not elaborate on his decision to withdraw from the race but praised his team.
"I've been honored and humbled - for all you've done for me and my family," he added.
"I'm hoping you'll give every bit of your heart and soul that you gave to me to Kamala."
What happens next as Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race?
President Biden has finally heeded calls to drop his bid for re-election, throwing the 2024 election into chaos. He has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris but naming a new Democratic nominee won't be a simple process. Here's what's next after Biden's stunning announcement.
Biden secured nearly 4,000 delegates by winning state caucuses and primaries earlier this year. He was set to officially be named the Democratic nominee at a virtual vote ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which begins on August 19.
Democratic party rules don't allow Biden to simply pass his 3,896 delegates to Harris or another candidate.
Harris will now have to convince those nearly 4,000 delegates and 700 superdelegates to support her and name her nominee.
However, delegates are free agents who can choose to support whichever candidate they want - likely without input from voters at this stage since primaries and caucuses were already held.
All eyes are now on the previously planned virtual vote - where the Democratic party could choose a nominee before the DNC begins.
Biden's endorsement of Harris will likely sway delegates and no one has publicly challenged her as a candidate - but delegates are not required to back her. Even if the virtual vote isn't held, the party could still choose Harris or another candidate before the convention.
If Democrats don't name their nominee before the DNC, it'll be the first open and contested convention since 1968.
KAMALA HITS THE TRAIL
In the days since being endorsed as the presidential candidate by Biden, Kamala Harris secured the necessary delegates to win the party's nomination.
As of Monday evening, Harris reportedly had the support of at least 2,668 delegates - way more than the minimum of 1,976 required to win on a first ballot.
The Harris campaign has also raised more than $80 million in donations.
The Democratic presidential candidate, 59, delivered a fiery speech at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington on Monday.
Harris lashed out at former President and compared him to the "predators, fraudsters, and cheaters" she had prosecuted during her time as attorney general in .
Meanwhile, Democrats have slowly united behind Harris' presidential campaign.
Former Speaker of the House , Senator Majority Leader , and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries joined the growing list of party members who have endorsed Harris.
Several of Harris' potential rivals, including governors and Gretchen Whitmer, have endorsed the vice president.
"When I announced my campaign for President, I said I intended to go out and earn this nomination," Harris said in a statement on Tuesday.
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"Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party's nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state's delegation helped put our campaign over the top, I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon."
One key Democratic figure who has not endorsed Harris is former President Barack Obama.
Timeline of Biden's failed re-election bid
President Joe Biden endured weeks of calls to step aside before he announced on July 21 that he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. Here are key developments leading up to his decision.
June 27: Biden's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump sparks calls for him to step aside. His voice is raspy and he trails off several times after having already endured questions about his age and mental capacity following a series of blunders at public events.
July 2: Polls after the debate indicate that Trump is pulling ahead. Rep. Lloyd Doggett is the first Democratic congressman to publicly urge Biden to drop his bid for re-election and big Democratic donors issue the same call a day later.
July 5: Biden does a live TV interview with George Stephanopoulos where he tries to quell fears about his age and debate performance. He calls it a "bad night" and says he was under the weather and "exhausted."
July 10: Senator Peter Welch becomes the first senator to call for Biden to drop out.
July 11: Biden refers to Ukrainian President Zelensky as President Putin at a NATO event.
July 13: Trump is shot at a campaign rally by a wannabe assassin. His popularity and favorability rating soar after he was seen bloodied on stage but walked off with a fist in the air, telling the crowd to "fight!"
July 17: Rep Adam Schiff and a series of other Democrats call for Biden to step aside and even former President Barack Obama tells allies that Biden's path to victory has "greatly diminished." Biden tests positive for Covid-19 hours later, after saying he would consider ending his bid if he were diagnosed with "some medical issue."
July 19: Biden insists he will continue campaigning in his first statement since Obama's U-turn - despite reports that he would decide to drop out by the weekend.
July 21: Just before 2 pm, Biden announces he is stepping aside in the 2024 election and endorses VP Kamala Harris.
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