By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-11 17:29:07 | Updated at 2024-11-18 04:22:04
6 days ago
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made their first joint appearance since last week's crushing presidential election loss to former President Donald Trump.
Biden and Harris, who looked stoic, stood side-by-side Monday morning to mark Veterans Day at Arlington Cemetery.
They didn't speak to each other as they walked to their positions for the somber moment, laying a wreath before splitting up so the president could deliver remarks.
Their spouses, Dr. Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff, stood in the crowd nearby.
It's been six days since former President Donald Trump won the presidential election, beating Harris in all seven battleground states.
President Joe Biden (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) appeared together for the first time since Harris' presidential election loss to former President Donald Trump
A stoic looking Vice President Kamala Harris (left) was seated next to first lady Dr. Jill Biden (right) to wait for President Joe Biden's remarks at the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday
President Joe Biden (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) participated in a ceremony Monday morning to mark Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery
(from left) Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a Veterans Day ceremony Monday at Arlington National Cemetery
On Wednesday, Harris returned to the campus of Howard University - where her election night shindig took place - to officially concede the race to the Republican ex-president.
Then on Thursday, a chipper sounding Biden addressed the election from the White House Rose Garden, telling staff they had much to be proud of.
Biden didn't join Harris at her Howard concession speech and she wasn't at his side when he addressed Cabinet members, staff and press at the White House.
The 81-year-old had been largely sidelined from campaigning for Harris in the final run-up to the election, after he appeared to call Trump supporters 'garbage' on a Zoom the same night his vice president was making her 'closing argument' speech on the Ellipse.
The White House contended that Biden was referring to a Trump-aligned comedian as 'garbage' after he referred to Puerto Rico as a 'floating island of garbage.'
But the Trump campaign glommed onto the gaffe - with some MAGA allies, including Donald Trump Jr. and Megyn Kelly - dressing up like trash for Halloween.
It didn't make much of a difference anyway - Trump was able to gain support from every demographic group except college-educated women - winning the Electoral College and the popular vote, the first Republican to do so in 20 years.
A somber Dr. Jill Biden takes in the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to mark Veterans Day on Monday
President Joe Biden delivered a speech at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to mark Veterans Day. During his remarks, he justified his decision to withdrawal U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which hurt him politically
During Monday's program, when the Executive Director of the Office of Army Cemeteries Karen Durham-Aguilera announced Harris' and Emhoff's presence, applause broke out in the crowd.
A number of attendees rose and gave Harris a standing ovation.
Biden clapped heartily.
He appeared to wipe away a tear during a playing of God Bless America.
The president gave Harris a shout-out as he began his speech, along with other top administration officials in the crowd.
'This is the last time I will stand here at Arlington as commander-in chief,' Biden said, calling serving as president the 'greatest honor of my life.'
'To lead you, to serve you, care for you, to defend you, just as you defended us, generation after generation after generation,' Biden continued. 'You are the greatest fighting force. This is not hyperbole.'
During his remarks, Biden stood by one of the most controversial moments of his presidency - the pull-out from Afghanistan.
President Joe Biden salutes during the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday
'Four presidents faced a decision after we had gotten bin Laden - whether to end our longest war in history,' Biden said. 'I was determined not to leave it to a fifth.'
'Ladies and gentlemen, this is my duty as president. But also as a parent,' Biden said.
Trump and his Republican allies pushed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wouldn't have invaded Ukraine had the U.S. not botched the withdrawal of Afghanistan.
The Democratic president also pledged to further enhance cancer-care for veterans exposed to toxins during their tours before he left the White House in January.
'Today I'm proud to announce that the VA will expand the number of cancers covered under the PACT Act,' Biden said. 'God willing we will make sure any rare condition you develop is covered. We are committed to getting the rule in place by the end of my term.'
'Folks, this matters. Too many of our nation's veterans have served only to return home to suffer from permanent effects of poisonous chemicals. Too many have died.'
That issue is personal for the president, as he long suspected that his late son Beau Biden developed brain cancer after serving in Iraq, where the U.S. military used 'burn pits' to dispose of chemicals, plastics, tires, medical equipment and human waste.
Biden is set to host Trump at the White House Wednesday for a meeting - part of the traditional peaceful transition of power.
Trump didn't give Biden the same courtesy four years before when he falsely claimed the 2020 election had been stolen from him, due to widespread voter fraud.
