Former US President Barack Obama has lauded Joe Biden, calling him “one of America’s most consequential presidents” and “a patriot of the highest order” after Biden announced his decision not to run in the 2024 presidential race. Obama commended Biden’s impactful presidency and highlighted their enduring friendship and partnership.
In his statement, Obama said, “Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order.” This came after Biden revealed his decision not to seek re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Obama reminisced about choosing Biden as his Vice President sixteen years ago, noting Biden’s distinguished career in public service. “I knew about Joe’s remarkable career in public service. But what I came to admire even more was his character — his deep empathy and hard-earned resilience; his fundamental decency and belief that everyone counts,” Obama stated. He praised Biden for consistently displaying these qualities throughout his presidency.
Highlighting Biden’s achievements, Obama said, “He helped end the pandemic, created millions of jobs, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, passed the first major piece of gun safety legislation in 30 years, made the biggest investment to address climate change in history, and fought to ensure the rights of working people to organize for fair wages and benefits. Internationally, he restored America’s standing in the world, revitalized NATO, and mobilized the world to stand up against Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
Obama acknowledged the difficulty of Biden’s decision to pass the torch, recognizing it as one of the toughest decisions of his life. “I also know Joe has never backed down from a fight. For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life. But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America,” Obama added.
He concluded by commending Biden’s selflessness and dedication to the American people, stating, “It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country — and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow.”
