US president Joe Biden has reportedly told Barack Obama he will run for a second term in 2024 as he is the “only one who can beat” Donald Trump.
A source revealed Mr Biden doesn’t think “there’s anyone in the Democratic party who can beat Trump and that’s the biggest factor” behind the 79-year-old's decision to run for a second term.
Speaking to Washington news agency, the Hill, the insider did not say when Mr Biden told Mr Obama his re-election plans, but that the pair did reunite earlier this month.
Mr Obama joined Mr Biden at the White House for the first time since leaving office in 2017 to tout the benefits of his signature healthcare law and bolster his friend.
US president Joe Biden and former US President Barack Obama speak about the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid at the White House
LEAH MILLIS
Former US President Donald Trump greets the crowd during a rally he hosted in Selma, North Carolina
Erin Seigal
At the event, Mr Obama jokingly referred to Mr Biden as "vice president" before correcting himself, inspiring a salute from the president, then offered broad praise of the Affordable Care Act, whose passage he described as a "high point" of his time in office.
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said the pair had an expansive conversation and a walk.
She said: "They did go take a look at the Oval Office and take a walk around, and I know they enjoyed spending time together."
While Mr Barack remains a popular figure, Mr Biden faces moribund public approval ratings thanks in part to high inflation, the lingering Covid-19 pandemic and a series of speech blunders.
As a result, Democrats risk losing control of at least one, if not both, chambers of Congress in November, which would bring Mr Biden's legislative agenda to a halt.
Mr Biden was the oldest president ever inaugurated. If he won again he would be 82 at the start of his second term.
Mr Trump, 75, has so far only hinted he will be take on his own third run for the presidency.
GB News presenter Nigel Farage said: "‘I’m in no doubt Trump will run again in 2024, the Democrats are in really big trouble".