President Barack Obama has endorsed Hillary Clinton for the presidency of the United States.
“I want to congratulate Hillary Clinton for making history as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” Obama said in a video posted Wednesday morning on YouTube.
“… 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 the job done.”
The announcement came after Obama had a meeting with Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been competing against for the party’s nomination.
Sanders has vowed to stay in the presidential race until next week’s primary in the District of Columbia, but reduced his campaign staff in recent days.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the video was recorded Tuesday, and Sanders, who has spoken to the president three times over the last week, was made aware of Obama’s plan to publicly endorse Clinton prior to the video’s release.
“As a result of those conversations, I think it’s fair to say Sen. Sanders was not in any way surprised by today’s announcement,” Earnest said.
After his Thursday meeting with Obama, Sanders said “(I) will work as hard as I can” to stop presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump in the general election.
Obama said in the video he will actively support Clinton.
“I’m with her, I’m fired up, and I can’t wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary.”
