President Joe Biden addresses the media and takes questions on Wednesday. (Susan Walsh/AP)
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that it remains his “intention” to run for re-election in 2024.
Speaking from the White House after the midterm elections, Biden said he is in “no rush” to announce a re-election bid, with his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, teasing an announcement scheduled for next week.
The president said he continues to deliberate with his wife, first lady Dr. Jill Biden, and reiterated that his timeline will not be influenced by Trump and will remain “early next year.”
When asked how he interprets last night’s results in terms of seeking another term, and whether the results make that more likely, Biden said the results did not affect his thinking family or him.
“It is our intention to run again. That has been our intention. Regardless of what the outcome of this election was,” Biden said after joking that his wife Jill, who was sitting in the audience during his remarks at the White House, she is more popular than him. in the Democratic Party.
Biden, who at 79 is the oldest president in U.S. history, added the caveat that Democrats who beat expectations in the election provided “whew, a sigh of relief that the mega-Republicans aren’t coming back take over the government.”
But, he said, “My intention is that I will run again, but I’m very respectful of fate. And this is all a family decision. I think everyone wants me to run, but we’ll talk about it. And I’m in no rush for a one way or another to make that judgement, right, today, tomorrow, whenever you want, whatever my predecessor does.
The president said he hopes he and the first lady will have time to “get away” over the holidays while reiterating, “I guess it will be early next year to make that judgment, but that’s my plan to do- it.”
Biden’s top advisers are making plans for re-election in 2024, although he has yet to make a decision on whether he will throw his hat back into the ring. Senior White House adviser Anita Dunn said Wednesday that planning for a potential campaign is already underway, regardless of Biden’s decision.
Biden later dismissed midterm exit polls suggesting most voters do not want him to run for re-election. When asked if this data affects his decision, he replied flatly: “It doesn’t.”
And his message to those opposed to another presidential candidacy: “Look at me.”
Biden also wondered who would be a tougher Republican challenger in 2024: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or Trump.
“It would be fun to see them face off,” he said, declining to elaborate.
CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed reporting to this post.