Biden and Harris appear together for the first time since losing the election

2024-11-11 21:22:04, Kosova & Bota CNA

On Veterans Day, President Joe Biden laid a wreath Monday at the Unknown Soldier monument to honor fallen soldiers. The event also marked his first public appearance with Vice President Kamala Harris since her loss in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

The ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, located not far from the nation's capital, Washington, also marks the first time Ms. Harris has been seen in public since her Nov. 6 speech when she conceded defeat in the election.

Democrats have been involved in internal debates about the reasons that led to their defeat in the election. Some have pointed to Mr. Biden's insistence on running again even at age 81 and despite promising to serve as a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders.

Criticism of Ms. Harris herself has been more muted. Mr. Biden praised Ms. Harris last Thursday during a televised speech at the White House.

Earlier on Monday, Mr Biden hosted several veterans at the White House to mark the holiday, before heading to Arlington Cemetery.

The ceremony comes before President Biden hosts President-elect Donald Trump for a meeting Wednesday at the White House.

Mr. Trump has started to select names for his new administration. He announced that he will bring back a hard-line immigration official, Tom Homan, to serve on the issue at the national level while announcing the name of lawmaker Elise Stefanik for ambassador to the United Nations.

Mr Trump himself has long claimed to be a strong supporter of the US military, but his critics have accused him of making disparaging comments about veterans.

His former White House chief of staff, retired General John Kelly, has said that Mr. Trump has made disparaging comments in private about members of the U.S. military. According to Mr. Kelly, the former president described those who lost their lives or were imprisoned protecting America as "losers," among other comments.

Mr. Trump himself has rejected these statements, describing them as untrue./ VOA