WASHINGTON—Vice President Kamala Harris praised President Biden’s record in brief remarks Monday on the South Lawn of the White House, her first appearance since Biden said he will not seek re-election.
“Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishments over the past three years is unmatched in modern history,” said Harris. “I am a firsthand witness that every day our President Joe Biden fights for the American people and we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service.”
Harris’s remarks were part of her official duties—she was filling in for the president at a celebration for NCAA championship teams while Biden remained at his Delaware beach house recovering from Covid-19.
Biden threw his support to Harris on Sunday for the Democratic nomination and major chunks of the party have coalesced around her. Harris made no mention of the upcoming—and extremely abbreviated—contest for the Democratic nomination or the campaign. But it was not difficult to read a broader meaning in her remarks to college athletes, who, she noted, must rely heavily on teammates and overcome obstacles to succeed.
“You have fought back and fought through,” Harris said as a light rain began falling. “By doing so you demonstrated that true greatness requires more than skill. It requires grit and determination.”
