President Biden addressed a crowd in Las Vegas on Sunday, mentioning a recent meeting with François Mitterrand, the former French president who passed away nearly three decades ago.
During his speech, Biden underscored the risks of a potential second Trump presidency while seeking to energize supporters before Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Nevada.
Biden recounted a familiar anecdote about his encounter with French President Emmanuel Macron at a G7 summit in England, months into his tenure at the White House.
“I sat down and I said, ‘America’s back,’” Biden recalled. “And Mitterrand from France looked at me and said…”
Biden paused momentarily before concluding the sentence: “Well, how long are you back for?”
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The president continued, sharing a scenario where the “Chancellor of Germany” questioned him about potential U.S. responses if a situation arose similar to an attack on Britain’s House of Commons during an election.
François Mitterrand served as France’s president from 1981 to 1995 and passed away in 1996.
In Tuesday’s Nevada Democratic presidential primary, Biden faces nominal opposition from author Marianne Williamson and several lesser-known contenders. He won Nevada in November 2020 by a margin of fewer than 3 percentage points. However, his visit to Nevada aims to rally voters for the upcoming general election.
Nevada, renowned for its gaming and hospitality sectors, is known for unpredictable, split-ticket outcomes. It boasts a diverse population, including significant Latino, Filipino, Chinese American, and Black communities. The state also exhibits a distinct rural-urban divide, with over 88% of active registered voters concentrated in its two most populous counties, encompassing the Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas.