President Biden late Wednesday quipped that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) could have any job he wants, including potentially being president, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the governor’s much-discussed White House ambitions.
“I want to talk about Gov. Newsom. Want to thank him. He’s been one hell of a governor, man,” Biden said at a welcome reception in San Francisco at the Asian Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) summit.
“Matter of fact, he could be anything he wants. He could have the job I’m looking for,” Biden added, eliciting laughter in the room.
The California governor has widely been considered as a possible presidential contender, and some see him as a potential candidate come 2028. Newsom has repeatedly fended off speculation he could challenge Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024.
Biden, who will turn 81 this month, has faced persistent questions about whether he is too old to run for a second term. Polls have consistently shown large percentages of Democrats would prefer a different nominee in 2024.
But Newsom and other would-be challengers have fallen in line in support of Biden’s 2024 bid, and the president is only facing long-shot primary challenges from Marianne Williamson and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.).
Newsom has in recent weeks been outspoken in his support for Biden’s reelection bid, and he has directly attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who is running for the GOP’s 2024 nomination. Newsom is expected to debate DeSantis on Fox News this month.