Biden breaks silence 24 hours after extraordinary decision to step down by calling his old campaign office during Kamala Harris visit

President Joe Biden broke his silence more than 24 hours after his extraordinary decision to withdraw from the 2024 race by making a phone call to what has now become Kamala Harris’ campaign headquarters.

The 81-year-old spoke in a raspy voice to members of his campaign team from COVID isolation at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and told Harris: “I’m watching you, kid.”

He pledged to stay involved in the re-election fight and said he would continue to participate in the campaign as he interacted via speakerphone with his aides who now work for Harris.

Biden’s comments follow questions about why he had not been seen or heard from since making the shock announcement Sunday afternoon that he was stepping down.

“I know yesterday’s news is surprising and difficult to hear, but it was the right thing to do,” the president said.

“I know it’s hard because you put your heart and soul into me, to help us win this thing, to help me get this nomination, to help me win the nomination and then win the presidency,” he continued.

There were already signs that the campaign had progressed, with signs pointing “Harris for President,” “Kamala” and “Restore Roe” hung on the office walls.

There was a wall in the Delaware office that remained covered in signs bearing the “Biden-Harris” logo.

As Harris took the podium, she noted that Biden was still on the phone.

“We love Joe and Jill,” the vice president said.

“It’s mutual,” Biden replied from the phone line.

“I knew you were still here, you’re not going anywhere, Joe,” she laughed. “I love you, Joe,” she added.

Harris thanked the campaign team and announced that current campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon would lead her campaign. Current Biden-Harris campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez — a former Harris Senate aide — would also remain in her role.

“I know it’s been a roller coaster and we’re all filled with so many conflicting emotions about this,” Harris said. “I just have to say I love Joe Biden, I love Joe Biden and I know we all love him and we have so many good reasons to love Joe Biden.”

“And I have every confidence that this team, the team, will be the reason we win in November, all of you who are here,” the future Democratic candidate continued.

Harris said she was honored to have the president’s support.

“I intend to run and win this nomination,” she said.

So far, no other mainstream Democrat appears to be challenging Harris, although self-help guru Marianne Williamson, who is running against Biden in the 2024 primary, has pushed for an open convention when Democrats meet in Chicago in August.

Democratic lawmakers, donors and grassroots supporters rallied around Harris, who would be the first woman and woman of color to be elected president of the United States.

A campaign spokesperson said the Harris campaign has raised $81 million in donations since Biden stepped down and more than 28,000 people have signed up to volunteer.

Biden’s campaign was caught off guard by the news that he was withdrawing from the 2024 race — and learned about it via X-post on Sunday, just like the rest of the American people.

“No one was notified before the tweet went out,” a campaign source told DailyMail.com on Sunday. “Which, to me, is an insane way to treat the 1,300 people who work for you,” the source added.

On Sunday at 5 p.m., during a conference call with all staff, O’Malley Dillon assured employees that their jobs would be preserved.

She also acknowledged that it was “difficult for staff who may have heard the news while they were working or going door to door,” but that it was “important” that they heard the president “in his own words.”

Shortly after Biden released the letter announcing he was withdrawing from the race, he said in a follow-up post on X that he supported Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee.

“I hope you give Kamala all the heart and soul that you gave me,” Biden said Monday over a speakerphone. “And I want you to know that I will not be on the ticket but I will always be fully, fully committed.”

“I have six months left in my presidency, I am determined to accomplish everything I can – both in foreign policy and domestic policy,” he continued, mentioning “working to end the war in Gaza.”

The president added that he would do “whatever Kamala wants me to do or whatever I need me to do in addition.”

“I want to be very clear. We continue to fight together. I’m not going anywhere,” the president said.

He has not been seen in public since Wednesday, after testing positive for COVID-19.

It is not yet clear when the president plans to return to Washington.