President Obama Endorses Hillary Clinton After Meeting With Bernie Sanders

On Thursday morning, President Obama met with Bernie Sanders at the White House. The two spoke on the phone following Sanders’ dramatic loss on the last Super Tuesday, and Obama reportedly congratulated both Sanders and Hillary on their vigorous primary campaigns. In the end, however, Obama chose to drop his Hillary Clinton endorsement video right after Sanders left the building. In her Tuesday victory speech, Clinton declared herself the presumptive Democratic nominee after crossing the magical delegate threshold. And Obama used his video to express great respect for Clinton, who he previously debated many times eight years ago, and who worked closely beside him as Secretary of State:

“I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office … I want those of you who have been with me since the beginning of this incredible journey to be the first to know that I’m with her. I am fired up. And I can’t wait to get out there and campaign with Hillary.”

Outside the White House, Sanders addressed the press in this Associated Press video. The Vermont senator insisted, “I am going to do everything in my power and work as hard as I can to make sure Donald Trump does not become the President of the United States.” With that said, Sanders plans to keep stubbornly pushing through the D.C. primary. And (of course) nowhere in this speech did he endorse Clinton for president.

Here’s one last message from the New York Daily News, who’s as biting as always with their Thursday cover.