Newsom praises Joe as he tries to shut down speculation he’s running a shadow 2024 campaign

California Governor Gavin Newsom gave a warm welcome to President Joe Biden to the Golden State on Monday as he tries to stem speculation that he is running a shadow campaign for the 2024 presidency.

Newsom, 55, hailed the “extraordinary progress” Biden had made in the fight against climate change as he stood on a dais decorated with the presidential seal in a Palo Alto nature reserve.

“There is simply no president in America’s modern history who has done more to deliver on the pledge to tackle the issue of climate change head-on than President Joe Biden,” Newsom said as he introduced the president, speaking of green initiatives. .

Newsom had endorsed Biden for president in April, the same day the 80-year-old commander-in-chief announced he would seek a second term. Sources report this to The Wrap that the announcement of Biden’s re-election caused Newsom to shelve his own plans for a bid for the White House.

But some of his recent actions suggest the governor hasn’t completely given up on that ambition.

California Governor Gavin Newsom (left) gives President Joe Biden (right) a warm welcome to Golden State Monday

Newsom has made a point of sparring with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — the 44-year-old who is second only to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP poll.

During an interview last week with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Newsom went after DeSantis for funding “migrant flights” to liberal cities, calling the Florida governor’s actions a “stunt.”

He added that DeSantis’ actions were “shameful” and “pathetic.”

Earlier this month, Florida officials took responsibility for two migrant flights that ended in Sacramento, California’s capital.

After spending a weekend in the Reno, Nevada area — attending an event where lamb testicles are served — DeSantis was in Sacramento on Monday for a fundraiser for his 2024 campaign.

While Newsom has slammed DeSantis, Biden objected to doing so when asked about DeSantis’ visit to Sacramento on Monday.

“It’s hard to comment on things like that,” Biden told reporters when asked how he felt about DeSantis being in Sacramento, “the same place he sent migrants.”

Newsom went on to speculate that he could make a 2024 bid if he declined to answer Hannity’s question about 2024 in an interview that aired last Monday.

“I can see where you want to go and no, I’m not answering,” the California governor said.

Biden is in California through Wednesday and will be holding a number of fundraisers to fill his coffers for his re-election campaign.