President Biden called into the Wilmington, Del., headquarters of his campaign on Monday to throw his support behind Vice President Harris, in his first remarks since he dropped his reelection bid.
“We’re still fighting this fight together. I’m not going anywhere,” Biden said on the call. “I will always have your back.”
The president called in while Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff visited the campaign headquarters. They walked in to cheers from the staff and “Harris for President” and “Kamala” signs already posted around the office.
Biden dropped out of the race in a letter on Sunday afternoon and soon after endorsed Harris. Harris said she intends to seek the nomination and has quickly moved toward locking it down.
Biden said Monday that stepping aside and endorsing his vice president was “the right decision.”
He then outlined his intentions for the next six months of his presidency.
“I’m still going to be fully, fully engaged. I’ve got six months left in my presidency,” he said. “I’m determined to get as much done as I possibly can, both foreign policy and domestic policy, keep lowering costs for families, continue to speak out on guns, to child care, elder care, prescription drugs and climate.”
He also spoke about the war in the Middle East and a hostage release deal that is on the table, which would be a legacy accomplishment in his efforts to end the fighting in Gaza.
“It’s all in jeopardy. We gotta keep working from aim to reward in Gaza. I’ll be working very closely with the Israelis and with the Palestinians to try to work out how we can get the Gaza war to end and Middle East peace and get all those hostages home. I think we’re on the verge of being able to do that,” he said.
He added, “I know I’ll be doing whatever Kamala wants me to be doing in addition.”
Biden stayed on to hear Harris’s remarks to the campaign staff and at one point, while the group was clapping, she asked if he was still on.
“You’re the best, kid,” Biden said.
Harris responded, “Joe is not done, far from it.”
“It is my great honor to have Joe’s endorsement in this race,” she added.
Harris raised $81 million in the 24 hours after Biden endorsed her, which is the highest 24-hour fundraising haul of any presidential candidate in history.