Obama Endorses Trudeau, But Not Biden

Mary Margaret Olohan

Politics, Americas

What is he holding out for?

Former President Barack Obama praised Justin Trudeau for his work as prime minister of Canada Wednesday, but Obama has yet to endorse former Vice President Joe Biden.

Obama tweeted Wednesday following the Democratic debates in support of the Canadian prime minister, saying that the “world needs his progressive leadership.”

“I was proud to work with Justin Trudeau as President,” Obama said in a tweet. “He’s a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change. The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbors to the north support him for another term.” 

I was proud to work with Justin Trudeau as President. He’s a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change. The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbors to the north support him for another term.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 16, 2019

But the former president of the United States has yet to endorse Biden‘s presidential run.

Biden has attempted to explain Obama’s silence by telling reporters in April that he asked Obama not to endorse him.

“I asked President Obama not to endorse and he doesn’t want to — whoever wins this nomination should win it on their own merits,” he said.

The former vice president has made it a point to emphasize his time serving as Obama’s vice president throughout his campaign.

“Serving as @BarackObama‘s Vice President was a privilege and an honor. We share the belief that America is a place where ordinary people do extraordinary things and anything is possible,” the candidate wrote in a video ad posted on Twitter.

President Donald Trump suggested in June that “there has to be some reason” why Obama has not endorsed Biden, saying that Biden was lying.