White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre held a press briefing on Monday, emphasizing that President Biden's decision to not run for a second term is not due to health concerns. She defended the president's accomplishments and emphasized his commitment to fulfilling his duties as president for the remainder of his term.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the media on Monday for the first time since President Biden announced he would not be pursuing a second term in the 2024 presidential election. She emphasized that Biden's decision was not due to his health, but rather stemmed from his belief that it was in the best interests of the country and his party for him to step down.
Jean-Pierre read from a letter issued by Biden on Sunday, in which the president stated, "It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term."
President Biden Withdraws from 2024 Race, White House Press Secretary Addresses the Decision
She defended Biden's accomplishments during his term, highlighting his success in passing legislation on infrastructure, gun safety, and climate change. She also emphasized the president's strong economic record, with record job creation and low unemployment.
"We believe and any suggestion of that note is ridiculous," Jean-Pierre stated. "I just laid out what the president has been able to do in almost four years, and it's been successful. He's been able to do more again than any president has been able to do in two terms. He's been able to do that more in one term, and he wants to finish the job that he started and delivering more historic results for the American people."
President Biden Withdraws from 2024 Race, White House Press Secretary Addresses the Decision
When asked why Biden stepped down, Jean-Pierre dodged the question and deferred to the president's address on Wednesday evening. She stated that Biden would directly address the reasons for his decision in his speech.
"Again, the president's going to speak to this directly to the American people tonight in prime time. I know many of you all will be watching it. There are specials going on tonight. He will, I promise you, he will speak to this directly to all of you tonight," she said. "But in his letter, he talked about the country. He talked about the party. He talked about the moment that we're in right now. It is not about his health. I can say no, that's not the reason. But hear him out tonight."
President Biden Withdraws from 2024 Race, White House Press Secretary Addresses the Decision
Jean-Pierre also emphasized the historic nature of Biden's decision, noting that few politicians have the ability to step down when they believe it is in the best interest of the country. She praised Biden's selflessness and his commitment to the American people.
"It's obviously a historic moment, but a decision like this is very personal. It's not easy to make. And I think there are very rare politicians who could look at the situation and make a decision. And I think it speaks to how honorable this president is, how selfless this president is, that he was able to make this decision and say, it is not about me, it is about the American people," Jean-Pierre said.
President Biden Withdraws from 2024 Race, White House Press Secretary Addresses the Decision
"This is about the country and making, again, a personal, difficult decision. And so I think that speaks for itself, I really do."
