WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he intends to run for reelection and would likely make a final decision by early next year, after declaring the results of Tuesday’s midterm elections good for democracy.
White House officials expressed a sense of vindication that Biden’s fellow Democrats did better than expected.
Biden, who turns 80 this month, has faced questions on whether he will seek a second term. A Biden adviser said preparatory discussions for a 2024 campaign were underway.
“Our intention is to run again, that’s been our intention,” Biden told reporters at the White House, his wife Jill sitting nearby. “This is ultimately a family decision.”
Biden said his family wanted him to run and he did not feel rushed to make a final decision. He said he would do so unrelated to any announcement from his 2020 rival, Republican former President Donald Trump, who is expected to run as well.
Biden has spent his first two years in office warning against threats to democracy after Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and did not accept Biden’s legitimate victory. He underscored those arguments in the final days of the midterm elections.
When asked how other world leaders should view this moment for America, with Trump potentially running again, Biden said the answer was to make sure Trump never returned to power.
“We just have to demonstrate that he will not take power if he does run, making sure he — under legitimate efforts of our Constitution — does not become the next president again,” Biden said.
Trump has criticized Biden’s policies sharply and has said he will make an announcement about his plans next week.
About a potential competition between Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the Republican nomination, Biden said it would be “fun watching them take on each other.”
He acknowledged that the results showed Americans were frustrated, however. Inflation was a big topic for voters.
Biden focused his campaign pitch largely on preventing threats to US democracy, securing abortion rights and extolling his economic policies.
Republicans are expected to try to undo some of those policies and prevent him from achieving further goals.
Biden said he was prepared to work with Republicans.