Topline
First lady Jill Biden said Tuesday she has “not yet” spoken to her husband, President Joe Biden, about whether he will seek a second term in the Oval Office, amid questions about the 79-year-old’s plans—though the president has said in the past that he will seek reelection.
Sunny Side Up: Then Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, appear … [+]
Key Facts
Jill Biden said the couple has “been a little bit too busy” to talk out the possibility of another campaign in 2024, but added she’s sure “it will be a discussion,” during an interview on NBC’s Today that aired Tuesday.
It’s the first time the first lady has publicly suggested that she and the president’s reelection plans might not be certain.
While Biden acknowledged that presidential campaigns are “taxing,” she indicated she’s happy with her husband’s time as president, saying he’s “kept true” to his campaign promises and that he “just needs to keep going.”
Key Background
President Biden was the oldest person to ever assume the presidency when he was sworn in 61 days after his 78th birthday last year. Biden and the White House have repeatedly said he plans to run for reelection in 2024, but his age and low approval ratings have fueled speculation and led some members of his own party to call on him to sit out the next presidential race. Polls in recent months have consistently shown that most Democratic voters do not want Biden to run again. Vice President Kamala Harris has been floated as a potential front-runner in the 2024 primary if Biden chooses not to run for reelection, but on Sunday she said she was “very proud” to serve as Biden’s vice president and would run with him again in 2024.
What To Watch For
The president is tentatively planning to announce his reelection campaign after midterm elections, Bloomberg reported last month. Sources told the outlet he’s been emboldened by a string of victories, like passing the sweeping Inflation Reduction Act and falling gas prices, which have helped improve his approval rating.
Further Reading
Rep. Tim Ryan Suggests Biden Shouldn’t Run In 2024—Joining These Other Democrats (Forbes)
Should Biden Run In 2024? Here’s What Top Democrats Are Saying. (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/09/13/president-biden-and-first-lady-havent-discussed-running-for-reelection-yet-jill-biden-says/