Harris honors Biden’s legacy while addressing NCAA champions

Monday was Harris' first appearance since Biden left 2024 race
She spoke to his legacy as she addressed NCAA athletes
Harris: Biden 'feeling much better and recovering fast' from COVID

Updated: Jul 22, 2024 / 06:09 PM EDT

University of Texas at Austin volleyball player Logan Eggleston, right, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Doug Emhoff, husband of Harris, second from left, speaks as the women’s and men’s NCAA Champion teams from the 2022-2023 season are celebrated during College Athlete Day on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 12, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

(NewsNation) — Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with college athletes Monday in her first public appearance since President Joe Biden endorsed her to be the next presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.

The annual event, which was previously scheduled, honors many of the NCAA championship teams. Harris also spoke at the event, dubbed “College Athlete Day,” in 2023. About 50 teams were represented last year.

Harris addressed the crowd, taking a moment to celebrate Biden’s accomplishments before honoring the athletes and several undefeated teams.

“Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishment over the last three years is unmatched in modern history,” she said. “In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of multiple presidents who have served two terms.”

As of Sunday, the next campaign rally for Harris was scheduled to be in Wisconsin Tuesday. It’s unclear if her campaign schedule will change now that she is running for the presidential nomination.

Biden announced that he was dropping out of the race. About 30 lawmakers had called for him to exit, including Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) on the final day.

Biden was facing mounting pressure from Democrats to reconsider his decision to run amid concerns following his disastrous debate performance last month. The president was at first defiant, consistently saying he would not step aside, but reversed his position Sunday, quickly endorsing Harris for the job.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden said on X. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”

Harris embraced the endorsement, writing in a statement: “I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.”

“His honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family, his big heart, and his love — deep love — of our country,” Harris said Monday. “I am a firsthand witness that every day, our President Joe Biden fights for the American people and we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation.”

The president, who has COVID-19, is “feeling much better and recovering fast,” Harris added.

The Hill contributed to this report.