Biden breaks his silence 24 hours after extraordinary decision to drop out by calling into his old campaign office during Kamala Harris’ visit
President Joe Biden broke his silence on Monday when Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Biden-Harris campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
The president convened a meeting with campaign staff and supporters and said he was confident he had made the right decision after dramatically dropping out of the race on Sunday and passing the baton to his vice president.
He told Harris, āI’m watching you, son,ā promising to remain involved in the re-election fight and continue campaigning.
āI know yesterday’s news was surprising and difficult for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do,ā the 81-year-old president said.
āI know it’s hard because you’ve put your heart and soul into helping us win this award, helping me get this nomination, helping me win the nomination and then winning the presidency,ā he continued.
There were already signs that the campaign had continued, with signs saying āHarris for President,ā āKamala,ā and āRestore Roe.ā
Vice President Kamala Harris visits the Biden-Harris campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware on Monday
One wall in the Delaware office was still covered with signs bearing the āBiden-Harrisā logo.
Bidenās campaign team was surprised by the news that he was dropping out of the 2024 race. They got the news via the X-mail on Sunday, just like the rest of the American people.
“Nobody knew until the tweet went out,” a campaign source told DailyMail.com on Sunday. “Which I think is an insane way to treat the 1,300 people who work for you,” the source added.
During an all-staff call at 5 p.m. Sunday, Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon assured her staff that their jobs would be preserved.
She also acknowledged that it was “difficult for staff who heard the news while they were at work or knocking on doors,” but that it was “important” that they heard it from the president “in his own words.”
Shortly after Biden posted the letter announcing his withdrawal from the race, he wrote in a follow-up post on X that he was supporting Harris to take his place as the Democratic presidential nominee.