President Joe Biden’s role at next week’s Democratic National Convention could be dramatically altered by his decision. ends his bid for the second termbut according to many Biden officials, his message about the stakes of this election will sound familiar.
The outgoing president will make a case for Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him during a speech on Monday, in part touting his accomplishments over the past four years.
But Biden will reveal that too still believes that Republican candidate Donald Trump poses a serious threat to American democracy and urge his representatives in Chicago and voters watching across the country to do their part to defeat him again in November, aides say.
“After saving democracy in 2020, President Biden is determined to defeat the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump,” said one of the officials.
The first day of the convention in Chicago will include a series of accolades for Biden as he prepares to end a half-century career in public service. A few weeks ago, of course, the entire convention revolved around helping to extend that service for another four years. But now it will present another opportunity for the president to try and shape his legacy.
The president will spend the weekend at Camp David refining his remarks with the help of top advisers, including top speechwriters Mike Donilon and Vinay Reddy. It will be based on notes delivered the message in the Oval Office shortly after dropping out of the race, make a strong case for Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The speech, officials said, will serve as a reminder of the importance of Biden immediately endorsing Harris after announcing his candidacy. unite a party in crisis behind his historic nomination. While Biden has struggled to stay in the race after a poor debate performance, his performance at the convention on the first night allows him to passes the torch Biden officials told NBC News that he and Walz.
“The president is pleased with the momentum behind the campaign and looks forward to making his case,” the official said.
Biden aides believe he will continue to highlight the Biden-Harris record after the convention goes to clash with the Republican ticket.
“Four years ago, America was suffering from a once-in-a-century pandemic, isolated on the world stage, crime was up, the middle class was left out,” he said. “Today: We are an engine of global growth, our alliances are strong, violent crime is at its lowest level in 50 years, border crossings are lower than when the previous administration left office, and we are making progress on issues Americans care about. the most.”
Members of the Biden family will join the president and first lady. who will speak ahead of her husband. Longtime friends and supporters of Biden will also travel together on a chartered plane from Delaware to attend the speech, and several aides have organized a celebration party for them and other current and former staffers in Chicago on Monday night.
Other elements of the convention, designed to boost Biden’s candidacy, will remain a tribute, starting with the convention logo, which was taken from his 2020 campaign design. All congressional delegates will also receive Cup of Joe coffee, and signs around the United Center on Monday will read words from Biden’s Oval Office address, such as “History is in your hands,” as well as the family mantra: “Spread the Faith.”
Biden will leave Chicago after Monday’s speech to spend the rest of the week in Southern California. There, he will meet with the top advisers he has worked with over the past month to solidify his plans for his remaining months in office.
A Biden official said the president “will have an extensive domestic schedule — traveling across the country to remind Americans that they must choose between his vision and the vice president’s vision to move the country forward, not backward.”
“And the president will fight to make every day of his term count to build on these historic achievements,” the official added. “Expect aggressive enforcement of historic legislation, cost-cutting measures and a packed foreign policy agenda.”
Zoe Richards contributed.