Speaking to a reporter on the night of Monday, September 2, President Joe Biden said that he’s “not able” to campaign in crowds for Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, as it is “too dangerous” for him. President Biden told the reporter that it was the Secret Service who told him that it is too dangerous for him.
The President’s comments come amidst a swirling mix of unfortunate circumstances for the President and the nominee, as Biden has been on vacation as nasty events occurred, was reportedly shaking in the wake of staying up for the Democratic National Convention, and Vice President Harris is struggling in the polls even despite media support and the convention.
In any case, President Biden has been a supporter of Kamala and, on Monday, the Harris Campaign announced that Biden will be one of her top surrogates in her White House bid. So, he appeared in Pittsburgh alongside VP Harris for a campaign rally at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union hall.
It was after that event that the president spoke about appearing in front of crowds, telling a reporter, when asked about reemerging as a campaign surrogate for VP Harris after spending a long amount of time at the beach, that he has been told by the Secret Service that it is “too dangerous” for him to appear in front of “crowds.”
The president, who has had trouble with gaffes and tripping, told the reporter, “I’m not able to go out in the crowds anymore. The Secret Service doesn’t let me.” The reporter asked him, “Why not?” He said, pinning the blame on supposed danger, which brings to mind the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, “They say it’s too dangerous.”
Watch him here:
Biden, joking about his age during the campaign event, said, “Folks, I’ve celebrated many Labor Days in Pittsburgh. And it’s always good to be back with so many great friends, many of whom flew with me on Air Force One today — represent the unions that have been with me since the beginning of my career — they’re not that old, but they — they’re — since I was a 29-year-old kid.”
Later in the speech, he said, “Look, folks, I come from two neighborhoods where it’s not hard to say the word “union.” But you know what? The fact of the matter is an awful lot of politicians have trouble saying “union.” (Inaudible) working people. Guess what? I’m not one of them. Neither is Kamala. We know the simple truth. Wall Street did not build America; the middle class built America, and unions built the middle class. That’s a fact.”
He continued, “And, by the way, that is a not a slogan. That’s a fact. I asked the Treasury Department to do a study, and it shows that when unions do well, all workers in America do better. That’s a fact. That’s a fact. It’s the biggest reason why our economy is the strongest economy in the world today without question — because of unions.”
He also said, speaking about his father’s blue-collar roots and lack of college education, “You know, my dad, like many of his generation, going into World War II, wasn’t able to go to — to college. My dad was a really well-read guy, and he was always engaged. And he’d come home from work before he’d go back and close up his shop and — for dinner.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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