PRESIDENT Joe Biden has mockingly branded his predecessor Trump “Donald Dump” as he shared a stage with Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time since his bombshell announcement that he would drop out of the race.
The two were speaking at an event in Prince George’s County in Maryland in a landmark joint event less than one month after Biden revealed he wouldn’t run for a second term.
PBS NewsJoe Biden and Kamala Harris have shared a stage for the first time since he announced he was dropping out[/caption]
AFPBiden mockingly referred to his predecessor Trump as ‘Donald Dump’[/caption]
PBS NewsBiden got a warm reception from supporters in Maryland[/caption]
Praising Biden as “extraordinary,” Harris insisted there was “a lot of love in the room” for the president.
A chant of “Thank you Joe” went up among the gathered crowd as the 81-year-old president looked on.
The vice president touted hers and Biden’s Medicare drug price negotiations as they addressed supporters in Maryland, a solidly blue state.
It comes just days before the Democrats prepare to officially confirm Harris as their presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week.
For his part, a relaxed-appearing Biden cracked some jokes about his age, referring to his “270 years” serving in politics, and saying that he was “too damn old.”
To laughter from the crowd, he said: “I was in the Senate for 270 years. I know I only look 40, but I’m a little bit older.”
Biden was the youngest US senator when he was first elected in 1973.
“The last time I was too damn young,” he said. “Now I’m too damn old.”
His age came to be seen by many Democrats as a fatal hindrance to his campaign, particularly after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in June, where he appeared rambling and incoherent.
He also praised Harris, saying she would make “one hell of a president.”
And Biden mocked Republican candidate Donald Trump, telling supporters: “The guy we’re running against — what’s his name? Donald Dump or Donald whatever.”
Referring to the controversial Republican “Project 2025,” Biden said his and Kamala’s “Project 2025” was to “beat the hell out of them.”
He was speaking about his administration’s effort to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long, long, time,” he said, referring to how he had been trying to accomplish legislation on the issue for more than 50 years.
And he said that Americans pay more for medications than “any advanced nation in the world,” as he described the fight against “Big Pharma” as critical.
It comes 25 days after Biden made the dramatic announcement that he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential election, endorsing Vice President Harris as his replacement.
Biden is forecast to address the DNC in Chicago on Monday before vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks on Wednesday, and Harris closes out the convention on Thursday.
Donald Trump is expected to hold a news conference from one of his golf clubs in New Jersey today after slamming Harris’ policies.
On Wednesday, the date for the vice presidential debate between Walz and JD Vance was set for October 1 on CBS.
Trump and Harris will hold their first head-to-head debate on September 10.
ReutersHarris praised Biden as ‘extraordinary,’ while Biden said she would make ‘one hell of a president’[/caption]