Politics

Obama Endorses Justin Trudeau. He Still Hasn’t Endorsed Joe Biden

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Former President Barack Obama praised Justin Trudeau for his work as prime minister of Canada Wednesday, but Obama has yet to endorse former Vice President Joe Biden.

Obama tweeted Wednesday following the Democratic debates in support of the Canadian prime minister, saying that the “world needs his progressive leadership.”

“I was proud to work with Justin Trudeau as President,” Obama said in a tweet. “He’s a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change. The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbors to the north support him for another term.” 

I was proud to work with Justin Trudeau as President. He’s a hard-working, effective leader who takes on big issues like climate change. The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbors to the north support him for another term.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 16, 2019

But the former president of the United States has yet to endorse Biden‘s presidential run.

Biden has attempted to explain Obama’s silence by telling reporters in April that he asked Obama not to endorse him.

“I asked President Obama not to endorse and he doesn’t want to — whoever wins this nomination should win it on their own merits,” he said.

The former vice president has made it a point to emphasize his time serving as Obama’s vice president throughout his campaign.

“Serving as @BarackObama‘s Vice President was a privilege and an honor. We share the belief that America is a place where ordinary people do extraordinary things and anything is possible,” the candidate wrote in a video ad posted on Twitter.

President Donald Trump suggested in June that “there has to be some reason” why Obama has not endorsed Biden, saying that Biden was lying.

“How [former Vice President Biden] doesn’t get President Obama to endorse him — there has to be some reason why he’s not endorsing him,” Trump told Hill.TV in June. “He was the vice president. They seem to have gotten along. And how President Obama’s not endorsing him is rather a big secret. Then he goes and lies and said, ‘I asked the president not to endorse me.’ Give me a break.”

Biden assured Obama aides in 2008 that they “would never have to worry” about Biden leveraging his position for a presidential run. Biden’s words came as Obama considered his VP pick between Biden, Democratic Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and Democratic Indiana and Sen. Evan Bayh.

The former president searched for a vice-presidential pick that would add experience to his campaign, saying, “I want somebody with gray in his hair.”

Obama also warned Joe Biden’s campaign advisers in March to make sure the former vice president did not “damage his legacy,” and met with Biden several times before the former vice president announced his presidential bid.

Obama pushed Biden on whether he would run for president again, and Biden reportedly told Obama in response that he would not be able to forgive himself if he did not try to defeat Trump.

“You don’t have to do this, Joe, you really don’t,” Obama said to Biden, a source familiar with the situation told the New York Times.