"Let's Finish the Job" US Biden Officially Announces 2024 Presidential Run (Comprehensive)

by Cho Seulkina

Published 25 Apr.2023 22:02(KST)

Updated 26 Apr.2023 03:55(KST)

U.S. President Joe Biden officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on the 25th (local time). The possibility of a rematch with his 'political rival,' former President Donald Trump, has gained momentum.

In a 3-minute and 4-second video released that day, President Biden officially declared his bid for re-election, saying, "Let's finish the job. I know we can do it." He stated, "When I ran for president four years ago, I said we were fighting for the soul of America. And we are still fighting," pointing out, "The question we face is whether we will have more freedom or less freedom, more rights or fewer rights in the years ahead." He added, "Now is not the time to settle," emphasizing, "This is why I am running for re-election."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, President Biden described "individual freedom as fundamental to who we are as Americans," and said, "Fighting for democracy was the work of my first term." He also criticized, "It should not be a revolution for all citizens to be treated equally, have fair opportunities, and have their rights protected," and condemned "'MAGA' (Make America Great Again) extremists who are cutting social security, reducing taxes for the wealthy, and dictating what healthcare decisions women can make."

This was interpreted as a direct criticism targeting former President Trump, who used MAGA as a slogan, and the social security cuts and abortion rights repeal supported by his faction. Although he did not explicitly mention former President Trump’s name, the video showed a photo of Trump with his arm around Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, one of the Republican presidential hopefuls, when the MAGA remark appeared. The campaign video also began with scenes from the January 6 Capitol riot.

President Biden’s declaration focused on 'defending democracy.' He said, "I know America. I know we are good and decent people, a country that respects honesty and dignity," adding, "We are a country that does not provide refuge for hate. We believe everyone is equal and should have a fair chance to succeed." He continued, "Generations of Americans have fought to defend democracy. Let’s stand up for individual freedom, voting rights, and civil rights," urging, "Now is our moment."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The day President Biden officially announced his candidacy marked the fourth anniversary of his 2020 presidential bid announcement. It was also the day before a summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was visiting the U.S. as a state guest. Vice President Kamala Harris will run alongside him again in the 2024 election. The campaign appointed Julie Chavez Rodriguez, senior White House advisor and daughter of labor movement icon Cesar Chavez, as the campaign manager.

The Washington Post (WP) reported, "A figure who has run seven times for the U.S. Senate and four times for president and vice president (Biden) is entering what may be his final campaign," adding, "Biden’s announcement brings the tumultuous 2024 presidential campaign one step closer. Polls show few Democrats are enthusiastic about his re-election bid, but many believe he may be the best choice to keep the presidency in Democratic hands." The New York Times also reported, "Despite concerns and anxieties about the oldest president in history, Biden is almost certain to be the Democratic presidential nominee." So far, in the Democratic Party, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, and author Marianne Williamson have declared their candidacies for the 2024 presidential election.

Initially, there were expectations that President Biden would delay his announcement until summer, but considering diplomatic schedules such as negotiations to raise the government debt ceiling and the Group of Seven (G7) summit, it was decided to make the announcement on the fourth anniversary of his previous presidential bid. Biden previously served as vice president for eight years under the Barack Obama administration and defeated then-President Trump in the 2020 election to become the 46th U.S. president.

The image of 'political rival' former President Donald Trump featured in President Joe Biden's 2024 presidential campaign video [Image source=Joe Biden Official YouTube]

Accordingly, the possibility of a rematch with former President Trump has increased. Trump sent an email to his supporters the previous evening requesting donations, saying, "We must defeat Joe Biden in 2024." He criticized Biden’s immigration policies and claimed that Biden has harmed America in just a few years. Currently, Trump is also leading the Republican presidential race in terms of support. A previously released Wall Street Journal (WSJ) poll showed Trump with 48% support, overwhelming Governor DeSantis’s 24%. Trump’s recent indictment over alleged hush money related to sexual encounters is believed to have consolidated the Republican conservative base.

If a rematch between President Biden and former President Trump occurs, it would be historically rare. In the 1950s, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower defeated Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson twice consecutively (1952 and 1956), winning both elections by large margins. The NYT mentioned the so-called 'incumbency premium,' stating, "In over 230 years of U.S. history, 26 presidents have run for re-election after their term ended, and only four have lost in the past 100 years. These unfortunate individuals are Herbert Hoover in 1932, Jimmy Carter in 1980, George Bush in 1992, and Donald Trump in 2020."

However, a poll showed that 4 out of 10 American voters feel fatigued by the possibility of a rematch between President Biden and former President Trump. According to a survey released this week by Yahoo News and polling firm YouGov, 38% of respondents said they feel "tired." Additionally, 29% expressed fear and 23% sadness about the rematch. In the same survey, opposition to Biden’s and Trump’s candidacies reached 70% and 60%, respectively. The top reasons for opposition were Biden’s age, currently 80, and various legal risks surrounding former President Trump.