President Biden declared on Monday that he was “not going anywhere” and would be “fully, fully engaged,” as he vowed to campaign hard to elect Vice President Kamala Harris and to use his final six months in office to keep pressing for his priorities at home and abroad.
In his first public comments since dropping his bid for a second term on Sunday, Mr. Biden called into a meeting led by Ms. Harris at the Wilmington, Del., headquarters of what used to be their joint campaign, one that is now entirely hers. He thanked his “amazing team” for all their work on his behalf and beseeched them now to turn their energies to Ms. Harris.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Mr. Biden said. “I know yesterday’s news was surprising and hard for you to hear,” he went on, “but it was the right thing to do. I know it’s hard because you poured your heart and soul into me to help us win this thing.”
The president, who has been out of public view since isolating with Covid on Wednesday night at his vacation house in Rehoboth Beach, Del., sounded a little hoarse but strong. The White House physician said earlier in the day that the president had been recovering well and that his symptoms were “almost completely resolved.”
“The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all,” Mr. Biden told the campaign team. “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. 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.”
Mr. Biden seemed determined to drive home that message, repeating the phrase “not going anywhere” three times during his four-minute talk.
He said that he wanted to use his remaining time in the White House to fight for more child care, to lower the cost of prescription drugs, to stem climate change and to end the war in Gaza. He is expected to host a meeting at the White House later this week with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and expressed optimism that a cease-fire is in the offing. “I think we’re on the verge of being able to do that.”
Mr. Biden did not elaborate on the decision to withdraw from the race, but he paid tribute to his team for their many sacrifices and accomplishments. “I’ve been honored and humbled — I mean this from the bottom of my heart, my word as a Biden — for all you’ve done for me and my family.” Now, he said, “I’m hoping you’ll give every bit of your heart and soul that you gave to me to Kamala.”
After concluding, he stayed on the line to listen as Ms. Harris addressed the team. “It is so good to hear our president’s voice,” she said. Referring to her husband, Doug Emhoff, who also spoke, she said, “We love Joe and Jill. We really do. They truly are like family to us.”
At that point, Mr. Biden’s voice sounded from the speakers again. “It’s mutual!” he said.
“I knew you were still there,” Ms. Harris replied. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“I’m watching you, kid,” he said. “I’m watching you.”
“Let’s be very clear,” she added a few moments later. “Joe is not done, far from it.”
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