As the oldest person to ever serve as commander-in-chief, President Joe Biden has faced widespread speculation regarding whether he will seek a second term in the White House.
Amid questions from across the political spectrum pertaining to his cognitive abilities, MSNBC reporter Jonathan Capehart asked him whether he plans to mount a campaign ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
“Mr. President, you haven’t officially said you’re running for re-election, but NBC’s Mike Memoli, who you know well, quotes a senior staffer to the first lady that a 2024 re-election campaign, quote, ‘is something both Dr. [Jill] Biden and the family fully support,’’ the interviewer began.
Going on to cite the late Beau Biden’s reported plea with his father to run for president, Capehart brought up the mounting pushback against the idea of a second Biden term.
“You’re president now, and there are plenty of people who are saying you shouldn’t run again because of your age,” he continued. “I’m wondering, what do you think Beau Biden would say to those people who think you shouldn’t run again?”
“The presidency is a monstrously taxing job and the stark reality is the president would be closer to 90 than 80 at the end of a second term, and that would be a major issue,” said David Axelrod https://t.co/bQiJHYG1BV
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) June 11, 2022
Asserting that his son might not have much to say to his detractors, Biden added: “What he would say to me, in my view, the only reason to be involved in public life is can you make life better for other people?”
He went on to acknowledge that he has not yet made “a judgment about formally running or not,” the president reiterated earlier statements that his “intention is to run again.”
As for whether the first lady is truly on board, it took Biden a few moments to form an answer to Capehart’s question.
“Dr. Biden is for it?” the host asked.
After a period of silence, the president said: “My wife thinks that we’re doing something very important and that I shouldn’t walk away from it.”
Earlier this year, leftist comedian Bill Maher presented his argument against a Biden re-election campaign, advising the president: “Be the sheriff who rides into town, I saved the town. And now, I’m Clint Eastwood and I’m riding out. Thank you, and good night.”
