On Monday night, President Joe Biden gave his first live speech since withdrawing from the presidential contest.

He spoke over the phone to a group of campaign staff members in his Wilmington, Delaware, headquarters.

Calling in while he recovers from COVID, Biden stated, “I know yesterday’s news was surprising and it was hard for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do.” Vice President Kamala Harris then made her first trip as a presidential candidate.

“The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all,” Biden said. “And by the way, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be out there in the campaign with her, with Kamala.”

Additionally, Biden emphasized his continued commitment to defeating Donald Trump.

He went on, “I won’t be on the ticket, but I’m still going to be fully, fully engaged.”

Biden pledged to back Harris in whatever way she needed him to. While Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff presented his wife, he stayed on the phone.

As Harris started, Biden remarked, “I’m watching you, kid. I love you.”

Her hands were clasped over her heart.

After announcing his decision to withdraw from the 2024 campaign in a written statement on Sunday afternoon, Biden became the focus of a number of bizarre right-wing conspiracies, many of which suggested that the president might be dead or otherwise disabled. However, the public appearance also served as virtual proof-of-life for Biden.

In a conspiracy-heavy thread on X, the former Twitter, billionaire Trump backer Bill Ackman commented about Biden on Sunday night, saying, “If this were a hostage situation, that letter would not qualify as proof of life.”

Among those who disseminated such conspiracy theories was Charlie Kirk, the founder and CEO of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA. He wrote on X that he had received an instruction from a source that the Las Vegas police were to seal the streets so the president could receive medical attention before being asked to step down.

“Apparently the rumor mill in the police department was that Joe Biden was dying or possibly already dead,” Kirk wrote. “I’m beginning to grow more curious if COVID or something else has been more serious than reported.”

However, Biden’s call on Monday appeared to indicate that he was doing just fine, as the new Harris campaign exuded enthusiasm and cohesion.

Following Biden’s endorsement of Harris, a large number of Democratic congressmen, governors, and distinguished citizens—nearly all of her prospective opponents—rose to her support. She gave the party optimism on Monday when it seemed like she had virtually secured the Democratic candidacy in the wake of Biden’s gaffes.

Harris remarked, “I know it’s been a roller coaster, and we’re all filled with so many mixed emotions about this.”

A little over 24 hours after Biden’s campaign ended, new “Harris for President” posters and a California state flag were already visible on the walls. However, Harris stated that the following items won’t change: Harris declared that Julie Chávez-Rodriguez, Biden’s campaign manager, and Jen O’Malley Dillon, his campaign chair, would continue to head her group.

The most memorable part of Harris’s address was when she talked about her experiences as a courtroom prosecutor and as the attorney general of California.

She cackled, “In those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. So hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump’s type.”

During her first campaign trip, Harris spoke for gun control, voting rights, and the middle class while cautioning against Project 2025. She further pledged to sign any legislation passed by Congress restoring women’s access to abortion.

Please SHARE this story with Family and Friends and let us know what you think in comments!