US President Joe Biden on Wednesday explained his decision to drop out of the 2024 Presidential elections, stating he decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.
The President framed his decision as a 'defence of democracy', stating America’s going to have to choose between moving forward or backwards. "I revere this office, but I love my country more. The defence of democracy is more important than any title," Biden said. "I draw strength and find joy in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People."
The statement came days after Biden announced he was ending his bid to seek re-election after initially stating that only the "Lord Almighty" could convince him to go. After his disastrous debate performance on June 27, many democratic congressmen came forward asking Biden to step aside. After initially hoping to tide over the crisis, Biden decided to take the crucial decision after agonising poll data showed he could lose to Trump in November and drag down fellow Democrats with him before stepping aside.
As he spoke to the nation from his Oval Office, Biden was surrounded by the First Lady, Dr Jill Biden, son Hunter Biden and several members of his family. Toward the end of remarks, Ashley Biden reached for the hand of her mother, Jill Biden, who was seated next to her.
"I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That's the best way to unite our nation. I there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, but there's also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices, and that time and place is now," Biden said.
Biden also endorsed his deputy Kamala Harris as the nominee for the Democratic Party. Harris, who is of Indian and African origin, has now emerged as the presumptive presidential nominee. "She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable," Biden said. "She’s been an incredible partner to me and leader for our country."
Vice President Kamala Harris watched Biden's Address to the Nation from Houston, where she is spending the night after visiting the city's Emergency Operations Center to receive a briefing on the ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl.
Biden added that over the next six months, he will be focused on doing his job as the president. "That means I'll continue to lower costs for hard-working families, grow our economy, and I'll keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights from the right to vote to the right to choose. I'll keep calling out hate and extremism, make it clear there is no place, no place in America for political violence or any violence ever, period. I'm going to keep speaking out to protect our kids from gun violence, our planet from climate crisis, is the existential threat," he said.
Biden said he is the first president in this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world. "We'll keep rallying a coalition of proud nations to stop Putin from taking over Ukraine and doing more damage. We'll keep NATO stronger, and I'll make it more powerful and more united than at any time in all of our history," he said.
" I'll keep doing the same for allies in the Pacific. You know, when I came to office, the conventional wisdom was that China would inevitably surpass the United States. That's not the case anymore. I'm going to keep working to end the war in Gaza, bring home all the hostages and bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war," said the president.