Two days after Hillary Clinton clinched a majority of pledged delegates in the Democratic primary — and minutes after finishing a peace summit with Bernie Sanders — President Obama endorsed his party’s presumptive nominee.
“I know how hard this job can be. That’s why I know Hillary will be so good at it,” Obama says in a freshly viral YouTube video. “In fact, I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office. She’s got the courage, the compassion, and the heart to get this job done.”
Obama also took time to thank Bernie Sanders for “shining a spotlight on issues like economic inequality and the outsize influence of money in our politics” and for bringing young voters into the political process.
“Embracing that message is going to help us win in November,” Obama says. “But, more importantly, it will make the Democratic Party stronger, and it will make America stronger.”
The president concluded his endorsement by arguing that Sanders and Clinton share a common vision for America’s future, one defined by optimism, compassion, and equality of opportunity. “Those are the values that unite us as Democrats,” Obama says. “Those are the values that are going to be tested in this election.”
White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Thursday afternoon that Sanders knew the endorsement was forthcoming. After leaving his late-morning meeting with the president, Sanders said he looked forward to meeting with Clinton “to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump and to create a government that works for all of us and not just the one percent.”
