President Biden Addresses the Nation About Ending His Reelection Campaign
President Joe Biden is seen from the Rose Garden as he makes a statement to the American people after announcing his decision to withdraw from the 2024 Presidential race, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in the Oval Office (Official White House Photo by Oliver Contreras).
This is Biden’s first public address since dropping out of the race and since testing positive for Covid-19 last Wednesday.
Article by Grace Sawyer, Senior White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON - This evening, President Biden addressed the Nation from his rarely occupied seat in the Oval Office. Biden took the time to address why he ended his reelection campaign, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and what he has accomplished and plans to do with his final months in office.
This momentous night marked an important point in President Biden’s long political career. Americans were watching and waiting to see what Biden would reveal and recommend as the next steps for the American people and more specifically, the Democratic Party.
Since announcing his decision on X (formerly Twitter) to stand down from the race, Biden had remained tight-lipped about his reasoning and plan until this monumental address, waiting to speak to the public.
This course of action was mirrored by Vice President Kamala Harris, who has only stated that Biden is “selfless” and “patriotic”. However, Harris has largely avoided the topic of Biden’s unprecedented political move while instead racing at rapid speed to get her own presidential campaign up and running.
Everyone tuned into the remarks with many of the same questions:
Why did President Biden drop out of the race?
Why is Kamala the best replacement?
Is the President healthy enough to finish his term?
What should Americans do in the wake of his departure?
Biden’s speech addressed all these topics while promoting the idea of unifying his party and America as a whole.
Biden opened his historic speech by speaking about the former Presidents surrounding him in the Oval Office acknowledging that, “I revere this office, but I love my country more.” He expressed that “It has been the honor of my life to serve as your President,” then focused on his promise to always tell the American people the truth.
The President shared that, “I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation.” Biden made it clear that he supported his Vice President in her presidential campaign. Biden noted that Harris has been a strong partner during his time in office and that she was prepared to fulfill the duties of the President.
Biden then assured to continue his job as America’s leader in these final months, vowing to keep growing the economy, protect civil rights, call for Supreme court reform, address the climate crisis, and fight against gun violence.
Biden wants to continue keeping NATO strong, ending the war in Gaza, and pledging to bring home “Americans who have been unjustly detained all over the world.”
Biden mentioned how the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis plagued the beginning of his presidency and how that struggle ultimately brought the nation together. The response to that struggle made America stronger in terms of the economy, equal wages, lower inflation, stronger border control, and more inclusive healthcare.
Biden claimed that even with all the successes of his presidency, America is still in danger, reminding that “America is an idea… The most powerful idea in the history of the world.” This idea however needs to be protected by putting the right people in positions of power.
Biden expressed that “The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule. The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America – lies in your hands.”
The call to save democracy comes at a crucial time as the 2024 Presidential election is expected to be intense and something unlike the American people have seen before. Biden echoed the call to his fellow Americans, urging them to vote and reiterated that the future was in the peoples’ hands.
After 12 minutes, Biden concluded his speech by sharing his gratitude to the American people and uttering “Let’s act together and preserve our democracy. God bless you all and may God protect our troops. Thank you.”
Biden then left the Oval Office and made his way to the Rose Garden with the rest of the White House staff. There, he repeated his thanks to all who were present as cheers erupted sporadically multiple times while (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher by Jackie Wilson floated through the air of the Nation’s capital.