President Joe Biden confirms 2024 reelection bid in video announcement with obvious dig at Trump
In reelection campaign video, Biden warns about ‘MAGA extremists’ going after American democracy and freedoms , pointing to abortion rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights and the January 6 attack on the US Capitol
President Joe Biden has officially entered the 2024 race for the White House with a dramatic video taking a not-so-subtle jab at Donald Trump – as America now braces for a potential 2020 Trump-Biden rematch.
The Democratic president, 80, announced his reelection bid in a video poignantly titled “Freedom” which was posted on social media at around 6am ET on Tuesday – exactly four years to the day that he announced his first presidential bid back on 25 April 2019.
In the video, he warns Americans about “MAGA extremists” going after democracy, freedoms and rights, pointing to Republican attacks on abortion rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights – and the efforts by pro-Trump supporters to overturn the 2020 presidential election during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Mr Biden says “this is our moment” to stand up for the rights of Americans as he urges voters to give him a second term in the White House to “finish the job”.
“Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms,” he tweeted alongside the video.
“I believe this is ours. That’s why I’m running for reelection as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job.”
The video opens with a clip of footage from the Capitol riot – an obvious reference to Mr Trump – followed by a shot of protesters outside the Supreme Court after the overturning of Roe v Wade, and an image of the American flag flying over the White House.
“Freedom. Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans,” he says.
“There’s nothing more important, nothing more sacred. That’s been the work of my first term to fight for our democracy, to protect our rights, to make sure that everyone in this country is treated equally and that everyone is given a fair shot at making it.”
He then goes on to take aim at his Republican rivals, saying that “around the country MAGA extremists are lining up” to take away personal liberties and cutting social security while lowering taxes for the rich.
The video cuts to footage and photos of the Capitol riot and MAGA diehards Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz.
An image of Mr Trump shaking hands with Ron DeSantis – the man believed to be Mr Trump’s biggest Republican rival in the race – also plays across the screen as he warns that America is in a battle for its “soul”.
“Cutting Social Security that you’ve paid for your entire life while cutting taxes for the very wealthy,” he says.
“Dictating what health care decisions women can make, banning books, and telling people who they can love.
“All while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote.
“When I ran for president four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of America. And we still are.
“The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom. More rights or fewer. I know what I want the answer to be and I think you do too.
“This is not a time to be complacent. That’s why I’m running for re-election.”
He continues: “I know America. I know we’re good and decent people. I know we’re still a country that believes in honesty and respect... a nation where we give hate no safe harbour.”
“Every generation of Americans has faced a moment where they have to defend demorcracy, stand up for personal freedoms, stand up for the right to vote and civil rights,” he says.
“And this is our moment.”
Mr Biden closes out his relection announcement video with the statement: “Let’s finish this job. I know we can because this is the United States of America. There is nothing, simply nothing we cannot do if we do it together.”
At 80, Mr Biden is the oldest candidate in American history to ever make a reelection bid.
He has been teasing his 2024 bid for some time, telling reporters on a trip to Ireland in early April that he would make an announcement “relatively soon”.
Then on Monday, when asked by reporters if – and when – he would be throwing his hat into the ring, he replied: “I told you I’m planning on running. I’ll let you know real soon.”
Following his announcement, the US is now shaping up to see a rematch of the 2020 presidential election, when Mr Biden beat Mr Trump in the Republican’s quest for a second term.
Mr Trump launched his presidential election campaign – his third – in November, aiming to become the second-ever commander-in-chief to be elected in two non-consecutive terms.
But, based on recent polls, a 2020 rematch does not appear to be what the American people currently want.
A Hart Research poll commissioned by NBC News found that 70 per cent of Americans – including a 51 per cent majority of Democrats – don’t think Mr Biden should run for another term.
Meanwhile, 60 per cent of respondents, including 33 per cent of Republicans, also think that Mr Trump should step aside as well.
For some time, Mr Biden’s approval rating has also been dismal, sitting in the low 40s.
Yet despite the ratings, Mr Biden is believed to have been spurred to enter the race following the Democrats’ stronger than expected performance in the 2022 midterm elections.
Historically, the party in power performs poorly in midterm elections but, in November, Democrats held control of the senate while Republicans’ expected “red wave” failed to materialise.
Mr Biden is also asking voters to put aside concerns – that have been ramped up by his Republican rivals – about his age and give him four more years to complete his promise to heal the “soul of the nation” when he entered the race in 2019.
Mr Biden is believed to be preparing to tap White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Director Julie Chavez Rodriguez to head up his reelection campaign.
Ms Rodriguez was the deputy campaign manager of the president’s successful 2020 campaign.
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