Jul 11, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Biden says Kamala Harris is "qualified to be president"

Sareen Habeshian

US President Joe Biden at a news conference during the NATO Summit in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. President Joe Biden and NATO's 31 other leaders had hoped their summit would celebrate fresh unity against Russia's Vladimir Putin, send a warning to China and prove the alliance is — President Biden at a news conference during the NATO Summit in Washington, DC, on July 11. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Biden expressed confidence in Vice President Kamala Harris' ability to assume the presidency during his high-stakes press conference on Thursday.

Why it matters: Despite his trust in his second-in-command, Biden has refused to drop out of the presidential race — and to make room for her to step in — following his disastrous debate against former President Trump.

Biden said at the end of the press conference that even if his staff showed him evidence that Harris could beat Trump, he would not drop out of the race unless he was surely told he himself could not win.

What he's saying: "She is qualified to be president. That's why I picked her," Biden said of Harris when asked if she would be ready to serve, if necessary.

Asked to elaborate on why she's qualified, he said: "First of all, the way she's handled the issue of freedom of women's bodies," avoiding the word "abortion."
Biden also cited her "ability to handle any issue on the board" and her background as "a hell of a prosecutor."

Zoom out: Early in the press conference, Biden mistakenly said "I wouldn't have picked vice president Trump to be vice president," when asked about his confidence in Harris.

Go deeper: "Finish the job": Biden shakes off flubs and calls to exit the race

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Biden says Kamala Harris is "qualified to be president"

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