President Joe Biden wiped away a tear and said during his final Veterans Day speech that being president was the “greatest honor of my life.”
The ceremony, which took place Monday morning at Arlington National Cemetery, marked the first time he and Vice President Kamala Harris stood side by side since her election loss last week to former President Donald Trump.
While first lady Dr. Jill Biden remained stone-faced for most of the affair, Biden let his feelings get across to the audience.
“This is the last time I will stand here in Arlington as commander in chief,” Biden said. ‘It has been the greatest honor of my life; to lead you, to serve you, to care for you, to defend you, just as you defended us, generation after generation, after generation.”
He added: “You are the greatest fighting force. This is not an exaggeration,” and later became tearful during a performance of God Bless America.
President Joe Biden gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to mark Veterans Day. During his remarks, he justified his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, which hurt him politically
It’s been six days since former President Donald Trump won the presidential election, defeating Harris in all seven battleground states.
On Wednesday, Harris returned to the campus of Howard University — where her election night took place — to officially concede the race to the Republican ex-president.
Then a sharp-sounding Biden addressed the election from the White House Rose Garden on Thursday, telling staff they had a lot to be proud of.
Biden was not present with Harris during her concession speech to Howard and she was not at his side when he addressed Cabinet members, staff and press at the White House.
The 81-year-old was largely sidelined from campaigning for Harris in the final run-up to the election after he appeared to call Trump supporters “trash” on a Zoom on the same night his vice president delivered her “closing argument” . speech about the ellipse.
The White House claimed Biden called a Trump-linked comedian “trash” after calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of trash.”
But the Trump campaign jumped on the blunder — with some MAGA allies, including Donald Trump Jr. and Megyn Kelly, dressed up as trash for Halloween.
It didn’t matter much anyway — Trump could gain support from every demographic group except college-educated women — winning the Electoral College and the popular vote, the first Republican to do so in two decades.
President Joe Biden (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) appeared together for the first time since Harris’ presidential election loss to former President Donald Trump
A stoic-looking Vice President Kamala Harris (left) sat next to first lady Dr. Jill Biden (right) waiting for President Joe Biden’s remarks during the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday
President Joe Biden (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) participated in a ceremony marking Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday morning
(from left) Second Gen. Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday
A somber Dr. Jill Biden will attend the wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to mark Veterans Day
During Monday’s program, when Office of Army Cemeteries Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera announced the presence of Harris and Emhoff, applause broke out in the crowd.
A number of attendees stood and gave Harris a standing ovation.
Biden clapped heartily.
He appeared to be wiping away a tear during a performance of God Bless America.
The president shouted out Harris as he began his speech, along with other top administration officials.
During his remarks, Biden stood behind one of the most controversial moments of his presidency: the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“Four presidents faced a decision after we captured bin Laden — whether to end our longest war in history,” Biden said. ‘I was determined not to leave it to a fifth person.’
President Joe Biden salutes Monday during the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is my duty as president. But also as a parent,” Biden said.
Trump and his Republican allies insisted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if the US had not botched the Afghan withdrawal.
The Democratic president also pledged to further improve cancer care for veterans exposed to toxins during their tours before leaving the White House in January.
“Today I am proud to announce that the VA will expand the number of cancer cases covered under the PACT Act,” Biden said. “God willing, we will make sure that any rare condition you develop is covered. We are committed to having the rule come into effect by the end of my term.”
“Folks, this matters. Too many of our nation’s veterans have returned home only to suffer the permanent effects of toxic chemicals. Too many have died.”
That issue is personal for the president, as he has long suspected that his late son Beau Biden developed brain cancer after serving in Iraq, where the U.S. military used “burn pits” to remove chemicals, plastics, tires, medical equipment and human waste .
Biden will receive Trump at the White House on Wednesday for a meeting – part of the traditional peaceful transition of power.
Trump did not extend the same courtesy to Biden four years earlier when he falsely claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud.