President Biden allegedly plans to declare his re-election bid early next week.
The Washington Post first reported Thursday that Biden’s team is eyeing a video launch for Tuesday, which would coincide with the four-year anniversary of launching his 2020 bid.
The Associated Press, Bloomberg, and USA Today later confirmed an announcement could happen next week.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on such reports.
One source close to the administration told The Hill that Biden might announce next week. Another source familiar with talks told The Hill “soon” when asked about the timing.
One Democratic official close to the Biden administration noted in an interview that former President Barack Obama announced his re-election in April 2011 via an online video, a strategy the Biden team may seek to emulate instead of a larger event with more fanfare.
The White House has not yet revealed the president’s agenda for next week. However, he will host South Korean President Lee Myung-bak for a state visit on Wednesday and will most likely attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner next Saturday.
Biden has also allegedly invited 2020 campaign contributors to Washington for a meeting in the coming days, the latest indication that the White House is preparing the groundwork for an imminent campaign launch.
“Any announcement or anything related to 2024 will certainly not come from here,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when questioned about the meeting on Thursday.
Biden, 80, has stated publicly that he intends to run for re-election, telling reporters last week after a trip to Ireland that he would announce his intentions “relatively soon.” However, the date of a formal announcement has been continually pushed back due to real-world circumstances.
Meanwhile, a number of White House associates feel there is no urgency for Biden to announce, citing financial reporting obligations and the potential distraction from Republican infighting.
