Kamala Harris Praises Joe Biden & Wishes Team USA Luck in Olympics in First Speech Since Announcing Presidential Campaign

The vice president wished the former candidate well as he recovers from COVID, shortly after Joe Biden stepped out of the presidential race.

By:
Reading Time: 2 minute
July 22, 2024 12:50PM EDT
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 22: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an NCAA championship teams celebration on the South Lawn of the White House on July 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Joe Biden abandoned his campaign for a second term after weeks of pressure from fellow Democrats to withdraw and just months ahead of the November election, throwing his support behind Harris. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
View gallery
United States Senator Kamala Harris (Democrat of California) speaks during a television interview at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Credit: Stefani Reynolds / CNP. 24 Jun 2020 Pictured: United States Senator Kamala Harris (Democrat of California) speaks during a television interview at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Credit: Stefani Reynolds / CNP. Photo credit: Stefani Reynolds - CNP / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA683531_004.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
July 28, 2022 New York, NY, USA - American Vice President Kamala Harris deplanes at New York's LaGuardia Airport.The Vice President is greeted by NYS Lt. Governor, Antonio Delgado. She is in New York City to announce new private and public sector efforts to align tens of billions in investments in underserved communities. This will include the formation of a new Economic Opportunity Coalition (EOC) to address economic disparities and accelerate economic opportunity in communities of color and other underserved communities. VP Harris Visits New York City, New York, New York, USA - 28 Jul 2022
US Vice President Kamala Harris (C) during her meeting with Polish and US soldiers at the 1st Airlift Base in Warsaw, Poland, 11 March 2022. The visit of the US vice president is a demonstration of the United States' support for NATO's eastern flank allies in the face of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. US Vice Psocieresident Kamala Harris visits Poland, Warsaw - 11 Mar 2022
Image Credit: Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris gave her first speech after President Joe Biden announced that he would end his campaign for re-election at the White House on Monday, July 22. Harris began her speech by showing support to Biden and praising his accomplishments throughout his four years in office. She mostly focused on celebrating student-athletes, as that was the purpose of the event.

Given that it was her first event since Biden announced that he was bowing out of the election, Harris started by saying that he was feeling “much better” after testing positive for COVID. She said that he wanted to be at the event, but he was still recovering. She then pivoted to speaking about his accomplishments. “I wanted to say a few words about our president. Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history,” she said. “In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office.”

Harris then spoke about getting to know the president by working with his late son Beau. “The qualities that Beau revered in his father are the same qualities that I have seen every day in our president, his honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family, his big heart and his love, deep love of our country. And I am first-hand witness that every day our president, Joe Biden, fights for the American people, and we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation,” she said, via The Guardian.

After speaking about the president, Harris turned to the NCAA athletes who were attending the event, honoring student-athletes. With six attendees going to the Olympics, Harris showed support for them ahead of the games in Paris. “As members of  Team USA, you are ambassadors for our nation, and with pride, we will cheer you on, and we look forward to congratulating you when you bring home the gold,” she said.

The speech comes one day after Biden announced that he would withdraw from the election, and he endorsed his VP. “I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in her acceptance.