Biden uses Oval Office address to explain decision to quit race, delivers call to defend democracy
President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Watch the full speech in the video player above
Insisting that 맥스카지노the defense of democracy is more important than any title,맥스카지노 Biden used his first public address since his announcement Sunday that he was stepping aside to deliver an implicit repudiation of former President Donald Trump. He did not directly call out Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to democracy. The 10-minute address also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history will remember his one and only term in office.
맥스카지노Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy," Biden said. "And that includes personal ambition.맥스카지노
It was a moment for the history books 맥스카지노 a U.S. president reflecting before the nation on why he was taking the rare step of voluntarily handing off power. It hasn맥스카지노t been done since 1968, when Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection in the heat of the Vietnam War.
맥스카지노I revere this office," Biden said. "But I love my country more.맥스카지노
Trump, just an hour earlier at a campaign rally, revived his baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Biden. His refusal to concede inspired the Capitol insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, which Biden called 맥스카지노the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.맥스카지노
Biden skirted the political reality that brought him to that point: His abysmal performance in a debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessor맥스카지노s attacks, sparked a crisis of confidence from Democrats. Lawmakers and ordinary voters questioned not just whether he was capable of beating Trump in November, but also whether, at 81, he was still fit for the high-pressure job.
Biden, who said he believed his record was deserving of another term in office, tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to end his campaign only mounted from the party맥스카지노s political elites and from ordinary voters.
맥스카지노I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,맥스카지노 Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for 맥스카지노fresh voices, yes, younger voices.맥스카지노
He added, 맥스카지노That is the best way to unite our nation.맥스카지노
It was a belated fulfillment of his 2020 pledge to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders 맥스카지노 and a bow to the drumbeat of calls from within his party to step aside.
Biden맥스카지노s address was carried live by the major broadcast and cable news networks. He spooled out an weighty to-do list for his last six months in office, pledging to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025. He said he would work to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, fight to boost government support to cure cancer, address climate change and push for Supreme Court reform.
The president sought to use the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but he tried to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office.
맥스카지노The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule,맥스카지노 Biden said. 맥스카지노The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America 맥스카지노 lies in your hands.맥스카지노
Biden was also making the case for his legacy of sweeping domestic legislation and the renewal of alliances abroad. But the way history will remember his time in office and his historic decision to step aside is intertwined with Harris맥스카지노 electoral result in November, particularly as the vice president runs tightly on the achievements of the Biden administration.
His advisers say he intends to hold campaign events and fundraisers benefiting Harris, whom Biden praised as 맥스카지노tough맥스카지노 and 맥스카지노capable," albeit at a far slower pace than if he had remained on the ballot himself.
Harris' advisers will ultimately have to decide how to deploy the president, whose popularity sagged as voters in both parties questioned his fitness for office.
Biden, aides say, knows that if Harris loses, he맥스카지노ll be criticized for staying in the race too long and not giving her or another Democrat time to effectively mount a campaign against Trump. If she wins, she맥스카지노ll ensure his policy victories are secured and expanded, and he맥스카지노ll be remembered for a Washingtonian decision to step aside for the next generation of leadership.
Biden said he맥스카지노s grateful to have served as president 맥스카지노 nowhere else would a kid with a stutter grow up to sit in the Oval Office.
맥스카지노I맥스카지노ve given my heart and my soul to our nation," he said. 맥스카지노I맥스카지노ve been blessed a million times in return.맥스카지노
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that any question of Biden resigning his office before the election 맥스카지노 which would allow Harris to run as an incumbent 맥스카지노 was 맥스카지노ridiculous.맥스카지노
Jean-Pierre said Biden has 맥스카지노no regrets맥스카지노 about his decision to stay in the race as long as he did, or his decision to quit it over the weekend. She said Biden's decision had nothing to do with his health.
Trump, who watched Biden's remarks from his private jet, posted on his social media platform.
As he spoke inside the Oval Office, Biden was joined off-camera by family members, including his wife, Jill, son Hunter, daughter Ashley and several grandchildren. Hundreds of administration aides held a watch party in the White House and gathered in the Rose Garden afterward to hear Biden thank them for their service. Outside the gates, supporters of Biden gathered holding signs that read 맥스카지노We love Joe,맥스카지노 and a brass band played.