President Joe Biden confirms his 2024 re-election bid in video criticizing Trump

President Joe Biden officially entered the 2024 race for the White House with a dramatic video taking a not-so-subtle jab at Donald Trump, as the United States now braces for a potential Trump-Biden rematch in 2020.

The 80-year-old Democratic president announced his re-election bid in a video poignantly titled “Freedom” that was posted to social media around 6 a.m. ET Tuesday, exactly four years to the day he announced his first candidacy. presidential on April 25, 2019.

In the video, he warns Americans about “MAGA extremists” who are pursuing democracy, freedoms, and rights, pointing out Republican attacks on abortion rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and the efforts of Trump supporters to nullify the 2020 presidential election during the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol.

Biden says “this is our moment” to stand up for the rights of Americans and urges voters to give him a second term in the White House to “finish the job.”

“Each generation has a moment in which it has had to defend democracy. To defend your fundamental freedoms,” he tweeted alongside the video.

“I think this is ours. That is why I am running for re-election as President of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job.

The video begins with a clip of footage of the riot at the Capitol, an obvious reference to Trump, followed by a shot of protesters outside the Supreme Court after Trump’s ouster. roe vs wade, and an image of the American flag flying over the White House.

“Freedom. Personal freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans,” he says.

“There is nothing more important, nothing more sacred. That has been the job of my first term to fight for our democracy, protect our rights, make sure that everyone in this country is treated equally, and that everyone has a fair chance to achieve it.”

He then goes on to take aim at his Republican rivals, saying that “MAGA extremists across the country are lining up” to take away personal liberties and cut Social Security while lowering taxes for the rich.

The video features footage and photos of the riot at the Capitol, MAGA hardcore Marjorie Taylor Greene, and recently ousted Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

An image of Trump shaking hands with Ron DeSantis, the man believed to be Trump’s biggest Republican rival in the race, also appears on screen as he warns that the United States is in a battle for his “soul.”

“Cut Social Security you’ve paid your entire life while cutting taxes for the very rich,” he says.

“Dictate what health care decisions women can make, ban books and tell people who they can love.

“All while making it harder for you to vote.

“When I ran for president four years ago, I said that we were in a battle for the soul of America. And we still are.

“The question we face is whether in the coming years we will have more or less freedom. More rights or less. I know what I want the answer to be and I think you do too.

“This is not a time to be complacent. That’s why I’m running for re-election.”

He continues: “I know America. I know that we are good and decent people. I know we are still a country that believes in honesty and respect…a nation where we don’t give shelter to hate.”

“Every generation of Americans has faced a moment where they have to defend democracy, defend personal liberties, defend voting rights and civil rights,” he says.

“And this is our moment.”

Biden closes his reelection announcement video with the statement: “Let’s finish this job. I know we can because this is the United States of America. There’s nothing, just nothing we can’t do if we do it together.”

At 80, Biden is the oldest candidate in US history to bid for re-election.

He has been teasing his 2024 bid for some time, telling reporters on a trip to Ireland in early April that he would make an announcement “relatively soon”.

Then on Monday, when asked by reporters if and when he would throw his hat into the ring, he replied: “I told you I plan to run. I’ll let you know very soon.”

Following his announcement, the US is now set to see a rematch of the 2020 presidential election, when Biden defeated Trump in the Republican’s quest for a second term.

Trump launched his presidential election campaign, his third, in November, aiming to become the second commander-in-chief to be elected to two non-consecutive terms.

But, according to recent polls, a 2020 rematch doesn’t seem like what the American people currently want.

A Hart Research poll commissioned by NBC News found that 70 percent of Americans, including a 51 percent majority of Democrats, don’t think Biden should run for another term.

Meanwhile, 60 percent of those polled, including 33 percent of Republicans, also think Trump should step aside as well.

For some time, Biden’s approval rating has also been dismal, sitting in the low 40s.

Despite the ratings, however, Biden is believed to have been buoyed into entering the race following the stronger-than-expected performance by Democrats in the 2022 midterm election.

Historically, the ruling party performs poorly in midterm elections, but in November, Democrats retained control of the Senate while the expected “red wave” from Republicans failed to materialize.

Biden is also asking voters to put aside concerns his Republican rivals have raised about his age and give him four more years to complete his promise to heal the “soul of the nation” when he entered the race in 2019. . .

Biden is believed to be preparing to select the director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, to lead his re-election campaign.

Ms. Rodríguez was deputy campaign manager for the president’s successful 2020 campaign.