At his first press conference as President, Joe Biden told reporters that he plans to seek reelection in 2024 and fully expect Vice President Kamala Harris to be his running mate.
Biden: I plan to run for reelection in 2024
President Biden on Thursday said he plans to seek reelection in 2024.
“My plan is to run for reelection,” Biden told reporters during his first formal press conference as president. “That is my expectation.”
Biden said he “would fully expect” Vice President Kamala Harris to be his running mate.
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Later, as a reporter asked a follow-up about his decision to run again, Biden quickly clarified that it is "my expectation" to do so.
"So is that a yes?" CNN's Kaitlan Collins asked.
"Look, I don’t know where you guys come from, man," Biden replied. "I’m a great respecter of fate. I’ve never been able to plan three and a half, four years ahead, for certain."
During the 2020 campaign, Biden did not commit to seeking a second term in office, saying he was focused on saving the “soul” of America after four years of Donald Trump in the White House.
The 78-year-old Biden became the oldest person ever elected president in the United States by defeating the then-oldest, Trump, in November. Biden would be 82 on Jan. 20, 2025, Inauguration Day for the winner of the next election.
Had Biden chosen not to run for reelection, Harris would have been considered a frontrunner for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.
On the Republican side, Trump — who still refuses to concede his 2020 election defeat — has teased the possibility that he might run again in 2024. If he does, he would likely be considered the frontrunner for the GOP nomination.
Other potential Republican candidates include Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, both of whom promoted Trump’s election fraud claims, as well as Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who dismissed them.
Asked whether he expects to face Trump in another general election campaign, Biden demurred.
[Also read: Biden condemns Republican efforts to tighten voting restrictions: ‘It’s sick’]
“I have no idea,” he said. “I have no idea if there will be a Republican Party.”
Earlier, Biden explained why he has not yet filed paperwork for a reelection campaign, as Trump did on his first day in office.
“My predecessor needed to,” Biden said, laughing. “My predecessor — oh God, I miss him.”
