As Joe Biden officially declared his re-election campaign, the White House rushed to put out a fire he started. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre created confusion when asked how long Biden plans to stay in office if elected in 2024.
“I’m just not gonna get ahead of the president. That’s something for him to decide,” Jean-Pierre answered.
Politico's @ccadelago: "Does the president plan to serve all eight years?"
White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre: "I'm just not gonna get ahead of the president. That's something for him to decide." pic.twitter.com/NAwcxr9dJj
— The Recount (@therecount) April 25, 2023
The response stirred up questions about Biden’s age and health, considering he will be 86 at the end of a second term. To control the damage, Jean-Pierre then tweeted that Biden would indeed be in office for a full 8 years, citing the Hatch Act.
“As you know, we take following the law seriously. So I wanted to be sure that I didn’t go into 2024 more than is appropriate under the law. But I can confirm that if re-elected, [Biden] would serve all 8 years.”
As you know, we take following the law seriously. So I wanted to be sure that I didn't go into 2024 more than is appropriate under the law. But I can confirm that if re-elected, @POTUS would serve all 8 years. https://t.co/n9OfMV4D1Y
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) April 25, 2023
The White House’s flip-flopping on the issue raised eyebrows and doubt in many Americans. After all, a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that only 26% of Americans and 47% of Democrats want Biden to run again.
It’s no surprise that Biden is facing a tough road ahead. Former President Donald Trump is seeking re-election and is generally leading GOP primary polls by wide margins.
The fact that Biden and his team are already struggling to answer basic questions about his candidacy is a major red flag. Biden’s age and health are serious issues that need to be addressed. The American people need to know that their President is capable of leading the country for the full length of his term.
Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. 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. https://t.co/V9Mzpw8Sqy pic.twitter.com/Y4NXR6B8ly
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 25, 2023
Furthermore, the Democrats need to address the lack of enthusiasm among their own base. Biden is far from a popular candidate among Democrats and it’s hard to see how he will pull off a victory against Trump.
It’s only been a few days since Biden announced his candidacy, and already the White House is in clean-up mode. This is a worrying sign for a campaign that’s supposed to be about restoring America’s faith in the political system.
