Coons says Biden is 'looking forward' and 'optimistic about the future' after exiting race
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) on Tuesday said President Biden is positive about the future and "looking forward" after withdrawing from the presidential election last week.
When asked on Fox News if Biden was bitter or upset about the mounting pressure he faced from Democrats to step down, Coons said, "No."
Coons, who was the co-chair of Biden's reelection campaign, pointed to the president's speech in Austin, Texas, on Monday, during which he laid out his reform proposal for the Supreme Court for his last six months in office.
"He is looking forward. Part of the point of the speech he delivered in Austin yesterday was to lay the foundation for what he intends to do, both in the last six months of his presidency and after the presidency," Coons said.
"And the other thing he did yesterday is just a reminder of Joe Biden's spirit and personality. After we went to Austin, he flew to Houston to pay his respects for a member of Congress [the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)] who recently passed. Any other president, knowing he wasn't running again, knowing there wasn't any political upside, might have made a brief appearance," he added.
Coons extolled Biden's compassion and commitment.
"One of the things I have always admired about Joe Biden is his compassion, his commitment to others, his grace. And so I spent the day with him yesterday. He is optimistic about the future. He is supporting Kamala Harris for president," Coons added.
Coons's comments come just over a week since Biden announced he would not seek reelection to the Oval Office and endorsed Vice President Harris to run as his successor. It followed weeks of mounting pressure from some within his party to step aside after he had a disastrous debate showing against former President Trump and raised concerns he may not be able to defeat the former president at the polls.
Harris quickly consolidated support among Democrats last week and became the party's likely presidential nominee within days of launching her official campaign.
Her entrance and Biden’s exit have immediately changed the nature of the race, with polling showing a close race and Democrats seemingly more energized by Harris than the incumbent.
Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto then asked Coons if the party returned Biden's optimism, suggesting Democrats instead acted "conniving and opportunistic."
Coons appeared to dodge the question, responding, "Well, many of us who support Joe Biden as our president and who look forward to his leadership in our party at the convention this fall and next year and into the future."
"[Democrats] are looking forward to demonstrating just how much we respect and admire our accomplished president, who's done so much on the world stage and here at home for America, for our middle class, and for our security," Coons added.
Coons remained a loyal supporter of Biden, stating just days before the president announced his withdrawal that Biden would be the strongest choice to challenge Trump.
In doing so, Coons touted Biden's record of the last three and a half years, calling him an "exceptional president."
“I fully support the president. He’s told me he’s in it to win it. I’m with him 100% because I know he can beat Trump just like he did last time,” he posted on the social platform X at the time.