After withdrawing his bid for reelection on July 21, President Joe Biden addressed Americans live from the Oval Office on July 24 to explain his historic decision and outline what lies ahead as he prepares to conclude his nearly 50-year political career.
In a roughly eleven-minute-long speech, the president reinforced the stakes of the upcoming election, saying that his decision to “pass the torch” was a matter of protecting the future of American democracy.
“I revere this office, but I love my country more,” Biden said, claiming that the defense of democracy is “more important than any title.”
The president urged Americans to join together in the months ahead, stating that “we are a great nation, because we are a good people.” The president raised the question, “Does character in public life still matter?” – highlighting the importance of upholding shared values as the nation moves towards selecting its next leader. This decision, he suggested, will shape whether the country moves toward “hope” and “unity,” or “hate” and “division.”
While the president did not directly mention former president Donald Trump, he praised Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he endorsed to succeed him as the Democratic nominee on Sunday afternoon shortly after announcing he would be stepping away from his reelection campaign.
“She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable,” Biden said. “She’s been an incredible partner to me and leader for our country.”
Within 24 hours of Harris’ official campaign launch, the vice president raised over $81 million, setting a new record for the largest single-day fundraising total in presidential campaign history, according to the Harris team. By the evening of July 22, an Associated Press survey indicated that Harris had garnered the support of more than the 1,976 delegates required to secure the Democratic nomination in the initial round of voting.
While Biden had consistently lagged behind Trump in the national polling average throughout the year, the latest general election polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight indicate a tight race. As of July 29, the polls show Harris and Trump separated by just one to three percentage points across various polling organizations.
Biden also touted his own achievements during his term, such as strengthening the economy following the onset of the pandemic, expanding access to healthcare and appointing the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court.
Despite the president claiming that his leadership and accomplishments “merited a second term,” he said that “nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” even if it meant setting aside “personal ambition.”
“That is the best way to unite our nation,” the president explained.
In abandoning his reelection bid, Biden became the first sitting president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 to forgo his party’s nomination for a second term. The decision signifies the end of Biden’s 54 years in public service, encompassing nearly three decades in the U.S. Senate and three terms in the White House.
While Trump deemed the president’s speech “barely understandable” and “sooo bad,” others offered strong support for the president. CNN political commentator Van Jones said “the words aren’t as clear, but the love is as clear,” and NBC News’ Kristen Welker described the speech as the kind “that will be replayed for decades to come.”
In the months ahead, Biden assured Americans that he would continue prioritizing key aspects of his presidency, including fostering economic growth, safeguarding personal and civil rights and addressing the climate crisis. The president also pledged to ensure the country remains “strong” and “secure,” outlining that he will remain focused on easing geopolitical tensions and creating peace in regions like the Middle East.
While Biden said he would remain committed to his presidential duties until January 20, he explained that the nation’s future will be determined by the American public, as “kings and dictators do not rule, the people do,” he said.
The president emphasized that the decisions Americans make now will “determine the fate of our nation and the world for decades to come,” and added that voters must be the ones to choose “between moving forward or backward.”
“History is in your hands,” Biden said. “The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands.”