Mall speeches have been given in the Oval Office throughout history. But perhaps none were as somber and reflective as what President Joe Biden delivered on Wednesday night, just days after announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.
Sitting at the Resolute Desk, where many presidents before him have addressed the nation in times of crisis and decision, Biden sought to cement his legacy as a leader who prioritized defending democracy over personal ambition. “I revere this office, but I love my country more,” the president said of his decision to drop out of the race, as his wife Jill Biden and several family members looked on from inside the room. “It has been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it is more important than any title.”
“I believe that my record as President, my leadership in the world, my vision for the future of America deserved a second term,” he continued. “But nothing – nothing – can stand in the way of saving our democracy, and that includes personal ambition. The best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. This is the best way to unite our nation.”
See more information: Why Joe Biden Dropped Out
The prime-time speech marked Biden’s first public comments since passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is expected to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. Biden’s withdrawal followed a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month, where he appeared fragile and struggled to articulate his positions effectively. The debate, widely seen as a turning point, exposed vulnerabilities and concerns about his age that had been simmering since his initial run against Trump in 2020.
Biden, 81, explained his decision to suddenly abandon his re-election bid after insisting he would remain in the race, declaring that it is time for a new generation of leadership in America. “There is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life,” he said. “There is also a time and a place for new voices, new voices, yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.”
He praised Harris and urged voters to choose her over Trump in November’s election, describing his 59-year-old vice president as “experienced,” “tough” and “capable” and declaring that democracy is at risk in these elections. elections.
See more information: How Harris is building on Biden’s campaign message
“The idea of America is in your hands,” said Biden, alluding to the weight of the position and stating that the character of a president still matters. “In this sacred space, I am surrounded by portraits of extraordinary American presidents,” he said at the beginning of his speech. “Thomas Jefferson wrote the immortal words that guide this nation. George Washington showed us that presidents are not kings.”
“I ran for president four years ago because I believed and still believe that the soul of America was at stake,” Biden added, never mentioning former President Trump by name. “The very nature of who we are was at stake. That is still the case.”
In response to Biden’s speech, Trump took to social media to criticize his attitude, calling the President “not very understandable” and “very bad”. Biden stumbled over some words, but the speech had no significant errors.
Biden reflected on his decades-long career in public service and praised the American system of government that allowed him to rise to the pinnacle of power, beginning with his election to the Senate in 1973. Despite challenges and setbacks, including criticism of his debate performance, Biden used his speech to list his accomplishments as president, including efforts to combat climate change and nominating the first black woman to the Supreme Court. He also outlined his priorities for the final months of his presidency, focusing mainly on foreign policy. Biden pledged to strengthen NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said he would “continue to work to end the war in Gaza, bring home all hostages and bring peace and security to the Middle East.”
He also said he hopes to make more progress on Cancer Moonshot, an initiative he launched in 2016 to cure the disease that killed his son Beau and millions of Americans, and promised to push for ethics reforms at the Supreme Court during his final months in office.
“It has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for 50 years,” Biden said. “Nowhere else in the world could a child with a stutter – from modest backgrounds in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware – one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as President of the United States. But here I am.”
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
