President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, are gearing up for a political rematch come November, securing their respective party nominations in primary elections held in Georgia, Mississippi, and Washington on Tuesday.
Biden, facing little competition within his party, surpassed the required 1,968-delegate threshold for the Democratic nomination. Meanwhile, Trump, whose last challenger, Nikki Haley, withdrew from the race last week, also exceeded the 1,215-delegate mark needed for the Republican nomination. Both candidates are poised to be formally nominated at their party conventions in August and July, respectively.
The anticipated results pave the way for the first presidential election rematch in nearly 70 years, presenting a choice between two candidates whom many polls suggest voters are not enthusiastic about.
Biden, at 81, already holds the title of the oldest president in US history. Trump, aged 77, is embroiled in legal troubles, facing 91 felony counts across four criminal cases related to his handling of classified documents and his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, among other allegations.
Their upcoming rematch is expected to further deepen the country’s political and cultural rifts over the next eight months leading to the November 5 election.
In a statement, Biden celebrated his nomination while portraying Trump as a significant threat to democracy, accusing him of running a campaign fueled by resentment, revenge, and retribution that undermines the core values of America.
Responding in a social media video, Trump hailed the day as a “great victory,” but quickly shifted focus, labeling Biden as the “worst president in the history of our country.” He emphasized the need to get back to work, deferring any celebration until after the election in eight months.