Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg insists it has been an “intense” time since President Joe Biden decided to end his re-election bid.
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Friday, Buttigieg said, “Obviously, it’s been intense, it’s been emotional, especially watching President Biden’s Oval Office Address, watching him do what is so incredibly rare.”
“Which is for a leader with that kind of responsibility and power to lay it aside, to relinquish the nomination, to focus on leading the country,” he added.
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During a speech to the nation on Wednesday night, Biden said of his decision to step aside, “In recent weeks, it’s become clear to me that I needed to unite my party in this critical endeavor. I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term, but nothing — nothing — can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.”
“So, I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That’s the best way to unite our nation,” he continued. “I know there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life. But there is also a time and place for new voices, fresh voices — yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.”
However, he did not mention weeks of pressure from his party to drop out of the race.