President Joe Biden said on Monday he intends to run for re-election but is not ready to formally announce a campaign.
The comments came during an NBC News interview at the White House as it hosted the annual Easter Egg Roll.
“I plan on running, Al, but we’re not prepared to announce it yet,” Biden, who was standing next to his wife, Jill Biden, told “Today” show host Al Roker.
President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden speak to TODAY’s @alroker about the White House Easter Egg Roll, this year’s theme, and if President Biden plans on participating in more Easter Egg Rolls after 2024. pic.twitter.com/dt0lfBPUcc
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 10, 2023
Biden also joked about being around for Easter celebrations at the White House for several years to come. “I’ll either be rollin’ egg or, you know, being the guy who’s pushing ‘em out!” he said.
For months now, Biden has said he plans to run again but pushed back a final decision to a later date. The Democrat told MSNBC in October that he intended to seek another term but had not formally declared a bid because a “whole series of regulations kick in.”
At that time, the president also said Jill Biden supported another campaign. “My wife thinks that we’re doing something very important and that I shouldn’t walk away from it,” he said.
People close to Biden told Axios last week that the president might wait to officially announce a campaign in July or even in the fall.
Opponents are already lining up as the nation prepares for the primary season. Among Democrats seeking their party’s nomination is self-help author Marianne Williamson, who ran in 2020. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed for a campaign last week.
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On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump is seeking another term, setting up a potential 2020 general election rematch against Biden as Trump faces multiple criminal investigations. Former South Carolina Governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson have also entered the 2024 race for the GOP nomination. Others expected to join the contest include former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
In the past, Biden said he was committed to Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate in 2024 if he ran for re-election. Already the oldest person to be president at 80, Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term.