President Joe Biden, in a candid revelation at a fundraising dinner on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, expressed that the looming threat of Donald Trump’s return to the White House motivated his decision to run for a second term in 2024, according to a report by Fortune.
Addressing top donors and supporters, Biden emphasized the heightened risk to democracy in 2024, cautioning that Trump and his allies are actively seeking to dismantle the institutions that uphold it. He asserted that if Trump were not in the race, he would be “not sure” about seeking reelection, attributing his commitment to a “moral obligation” to prevent the former president from reclaiming power.
Characterizing Trump as a “dictator” with no respect for the Constitution, Biden accused him of attempting to steal the last election and inciting the violent mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2023, in a bid to overturn the 2020 election results.
“We’ve got to get it done, not because of me. If Trump wasn’t running I’m not sure I’d be running. We cannot let him win,” Biden asserted, highlighting the critical nature of the upcoming election.
Biden underscored the significance of preserving American democracy, stating, “American democracy, I give you my word as a Biden, is at stake.”
These remarks coincide with Biden’s preparations to formally announce his 2024 campaign in the coming weeks, amid speculation about potential successors like Vice President Kamala Harris or a younger candidate. Despite being 82 years old at the time of the next election, Biden has consistently expressed his intent to run for a second term, contingent on his health.
The fundraising dinner forms part of a series of events aimed at bolstering Biden’s campaign coffers and rallying his support base. The events, including a concert by James Taylor and a reception hosted by Steven Spielberg, are expected to raise over $20 million. As of the end of September, Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee reported having $108 million in cash on hand, slightly surpassing Trump’s political committees with $102 million.
Amid challenges at home and abroad, such as rising inflation, a stalled legislative agenda, and geopolitical tensions, Biden faces a record-low approval rating of 41 percent, according to the latest Gallup poll. In contrast, Trump’s favorability rating has risen to 46 percent.
With the potential rematch between Biden and Trump in 2024 shaping up to be a closely contested race, recent polls indicate a neck-and-neck competition in the national popular vote and key battleground states like Wisconsin, Georgia, and Arizona. However, Biden also faces challenges from other possible Republican contenders, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who leads in some hypothetical matchups, as suggested by the latest polls.
