US President Joe Biden, 80, announces another run for White House

US President Joe Biden, 80, officially announced that he is running for reelection in the 2024 presidential elections. In a video he posted, he asked voters to give him more time so he could “finish the job” he began when he first took office. He pleaded with people to put aside their reservations about his advanced age and another bid to become America’s oldest president.

The three-minute video was released on the fourth anniversary of Biden’s 2019 announcement that he would be seeking the presidency.

“Let’s Finish the Job”, his video was titled, as was his Twitter post announcing a 2024 presidential bid. 

“When I ran for president four years ago, I said we’re in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,” Biden said. “This is not a time to be complacent.”

“Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms. I believe this is ours. That’s why I’m running for re-election as president of the United States. Join us. Let’s finish the job,” Biden wrote on Twitter.

The announcement most likely sets up a rematch of his contest with Donald Trump in the 2020 elections. On Monday, the latter made fun of Biden by asserting that “it is almost inconceivable that Biden would even think of running for reelection”.

In his first two years in office, Biden had both significant legislative victories and difficulties with foreign policy. He doesn’t really have a Democratic Party rival to contend with.

But given his advanced age, the Democratic Party is taking a big risk by supporting him for re-election. Since a potential second term would imply that Biden will be 86 by the end of the term. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 39% of people approved of him.

Biden, who abstains from drinking and works out five times per week, was deemed “fit for duty” by medical professionals following a test in February. The White House adds that evidence from his past demonstrates his mental capacity for the task at hand.

Republicans immediately criticized him for being “out of touch” in response to the announcement.