Sanders Tells Obama He'll Work With Clinton, Won't Drop Out

Bernie Sanders left a meeting with President Obama on Thursday vowing to "work together" with Hillary Clinton to defeat Donald Trump, ABC News reports. And while he says he'll continue his campaign at least through the final primary—next Tuesday in DC—the Wall Street Journal notes he didn't appear interested in challenging Clinton's status as the presumptive nominee. CNN quotes Sanders as saying he'll "work as hard as I can to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president of the Untied States." He says he plans to meet with Clinton soon to “create a government which represents all of us and not just the 1%.” Sanders says a Trump presidency would be a "disaster" for the country.

Obama did not try to convince Sanders to drop out of the race, something a growing number of Democrats are hoping for. "At this point, the president believes that Sen. Sanders has more than earned the right to make his own decision about the course of his campaign," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said prior to the meeting. Obama has said Clinton is better for the tough challenge she received from Sanders. Rather, the meeting was about the future role of Sanders and his policies—including a national $15 minimum wage and paid family and medical leave—in the Democratic party. The White House wants Sanders to become a "unifying figure" in the coming months. Obama is expected to endorse Clinton shortly. (More Bernie Sanders stories.)