Biden confirmed his intention to run for re-election but indicated that the official announcement could take time. (Reuters)
The US president, Joe Biden, confirmed this Friday his intention to run in the 2024 presidential elections, but confessed that the official announcement could still be a long way off.
“My intention is and has been to introduce myself from the beginning. But there are many other things that we have to finish in the short term before starting a campaign, ”Biden said in an interview with ABC News.
Questioned by the statement of the first lady, Jill Biden, that it only remained to establish the time and place to make the announcement, the US president specified that he still has “other things to do” before entering “in a full-fledged campaign ”.
Biden maintained that “it is legitimate” for people to raise questions about his age, since in the event of winning the next elections, he would be 86 years old at the end of his term.
“It is totally legitimate to do that. And the only thing I can say is that they watch me, ”said the US president, alleging that he is in good health, according to statements to the aforementioned television network.
Biden and his team have repeatedly affirmed the president’s willingness to run for president in November 2024, but he has not made an official announcement.
Questioned by the statement of the first lady, Jill Biden, that it only remained to establish the time and place to make the announcement, the US president specified that he still has “other things to do” before entering “in a full-fledged campaign ”. (AP)
Among Democrats there are voices that point to the president’s high age as a problem, urging that younger profiles be sought for the elections.
So far, former President Donald Trump and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, both from the Republican Party) have been the only ones to officially present their candidacy for the 2024 elections.
Biden aides have said the announcement will likely come in April, at the end of the first quarter of fundraising, around the same time former President Barack Obama launched his re-election campaign.
The first lady has long been said to be a crucial figure for Biden as he plans his future.
In an interview conducted by The Associated Press news agency, First Lady Jill Biden ruled out having the final vote on Biden’s decision to seek re-election.
“Of course you will listen to me because we are a married couple,” he said. But he added: “The decisions are made by him, believe me.”
In an interview conducted by The Associated Press news agency, First Lady Jill Biden ruled out having the final vote on Biden’s decision to seek re-election. (AP)
“How many times do you have to say it to be believed?” the first lady said in Nairobi, the second and final leg of her five-day tour of Africa.
“He says it’s not over,” he added. “She hasn’t finished what she started. That’s what matters”.
During the interview, Jill Biden recalled her trip to Ukraine in May of last year to meet with Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.
“So we thought: How long can this go on? And here we are, a year later,” she noted. “And look what the Ukrainian people have done. I mean, it’s very strong and resilient, and they’re fighting for their country.”
“We all hope that this war ends soon, because we see the damage, the violence and the horror on our televisions every day,” the first lady added. “And we just can’t believe it.”
(With information from Europa Press and The Associated Press)
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