Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday welcomed this year's national college championship teams to the White House as a newfound wave of attention swirls around the now 2024 presidential candidate.
The event marked Harris’ first public appearance since President Joe Biden – in a sudden and shocking move on Sunday – dropped his reelection bid and threw his weight behind his vice president.
Harris kicked off her remarks at Monday’s South Lawn event, under an overcast Washington sky and light drizzle, praising her boss, referring to his accomplishments over his less than four years leading the country as “unmatched in modern history.”
“In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office,” Harris declared.
The vice president reiterated an anecdote she shared in a statement Sunday about hearing stories about Biden from his late son Beau when they both served as attorney generals in their respective states.
“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,” Harris said. “And I am firsthand 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.”
With Biden on Monday still recovering from COVID-19 at his Delaware beach home, Harris was tasked with taking the reins in celebrating the nation’s top collegiate athletes. She noted the president wanted to be there but was “feeling much better,” “recovering fast” and looking “ forward to getting back on the road.”
Harris noted seven undefeated teams, 11 repeat champions, and 20 first-time winners were represented at Monday’s event, going on to praise the athletes for fighting through challenges and obstacles.
“By doing so, you demonstrated that true greatness requires more than skill – it requires grit and determination,” she said. “You all know what it means to commit and to persevere and you know what it means to count on teammates.”
The vice president concluded by telling the athletes they will “always be champions.”
“And we will always be so proud of you,” she said.
The vice president on Monday will also travel to Wilmington, Delaware, where the campaign is headquartered, to speak to staff. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Harris noted, Monday was the “first full day of our campaign.”
“One day down. 105 to go,” she wrote. “Together, we’re going to win this.”