Joe Biden’s long awaited presidential run was announced at 6 o’clock Thursday morning, via a Twitter video and a one sentence explanation of the core values that led him to his run

Biden writes, “The core values of this nation… our standing in the world… our very democracy…everything that has made America — America –is at stake. That’s why today I’m announcing my candidacy for President of the United States.” Biden’s video release expanded on the announcement, outlining the importance of respectful leadership.

Biden also heavily criticized President Trump for his handling of the Charlottesville, Va, rally between Alt-right marchers and Anti-fa protesters.

“He said there were, quote, ‘Some very fine people on both sides.’ Very fine people on both sides? With those words, the president of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it,” Biden said. “And in that moment, I knew the threat to this nation was unlike any I’d ever seen in my lifetime.”

The statement Biden referenced was stated during a press conference after the Charlottesville riots, when the President said, “I’ve condemned neo-Nazis. I’ve condemned many different groups. But not all of [the people at the rally] were neo-Nazis, believe me. Not all of those people were white supremacists, by any stretch. Those people were also there because they wanted to protest the taking down of a statue, Robert E. Lee.”

A reporter asked the question, “Both sides, sir?”

Referring to the so-called “antifa,” which was also present at the rally wearing masks, throwing paint and spraying urine, President Trump said, “Well, I do think there’s blame — yes, I think there’s blame on both sides.”

President Trump also said, “You have some very bad people in that group. But you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides.”

He again specified that he was not referring to white supremacists, saying, “You had people, and I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally. But you had many people in that group other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists”.

President Trump responded to Biden’s announcement hours later in a tweet, saying, “Welcome to the race Sleepy Joe. I only hope you have the intelligence, long in doubt, to wage a successful primary campaign. It will be nasty – you will be dealing with people who truly have some very sick & demented ideas. But if you make it, I will see you at the Starting Gate!”

With President Trump’s cold welcome and a democratic primary with over 20 candidates, Biden has a lot to do to maintain his lead in the polls, especially because of the demand for an inter-sectional and younger candidate for the Democrats.