President Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted military veterans and their families at the White House Thursday to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.
On Tuesday evening the president and the first lady met with active-duty military service members and their families. A second event started at 8 p.m. Eastern Time for military and veteran families, caregivers and survivors. President Biden gave remarks to commemorate Independence Day.
"All those who served as members of the military were heroes, genuine heroes, heroes for freedom, democracy and America," President Biden said. "Now, decades later, we must look at ourselves and ask the question, will we stand for freedom again? Will we stand for democracy? Will we stand together as Americans? I believe we will and we can."
"We've got to do what our founders did: show the world we're a nation of dignity, honor and devotion to one another," President Biden said. "It's all about democracy. It's all about freedom. It's all about who we are."
"We're the United States of America, and nothing like it exists in the world," he said.
The President and the first lady, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, are expected to take in the fireworks display over the National Mall later in the evening.
The events come after a difficult week for President Biden, who with the White House and other Democratic allies has pushed back on criticism about his fitness for the 2024 presidential election. He has made it clear his intention is to stay in the presidential race amid growing concerns within his own party.
"I'm not going anywhere," President Biden told attendees on Thursday.
“I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win because when Democrats unite, we will always win. Just as we beat Donald Trump in 2020, we’re going to beat him again in 2024,” President Biden told staff during a campaign call on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with his remarks.
The president later added, “There is no one I’d rather be in this battle with than all of you. So let’s link arms. Let’s get this done. You, me, the vice president. Together.”
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