FULL REMARKS: President Joe Biden addresses the nation on his decision not to run for reelection



Insisting that โ€œthe defense of democracy is more important than any title,โ€ President Joe Biden on Wednesday explained in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and to throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

The address offered the public their first chance to hear directly from Biden his rationale for dropping out of the 2024 election after weeks of insisting he believed himself to be the best candidate to take on former President Donald Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to the nationโ€™s democracy. It also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history views his one and only term in office.

โ€œThe defense of democracy is more important than any title,โ€ Biden said. โ€œNothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. And that includes personal ambition.โ€

Said Biden, โ€œI revere this office, but I love my country more.โ€

Bidenโ€™s candidacy faced a crisis of confidence from Democrats after his abysmal debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessorโ€™s attacks. It sparked a mutiny within his party over 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 tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to step aside only mounted from the partyโ€™s political elites and from ordinary voters.

On Sunday afternoon, while isolating at his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home with COVID-19, Biden finally bowed in a letter posted to his account on X announcing his decision to leave the race, followed up later by an endorsement of Harris.

MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-speech-oval-office-address-to-nation/507-a9d6cb16-b239-4cac-a22b-a87816a381c2

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38 thoughts on “FULL REMARKS: President Joe Biden addresses the nation on his decision not to run for reelection”

  1. Take your time , use your Christopher Walken voice, stay woke and Keep your eyes fixed on that tele-prompter dude ,, you're doing great!!,,and thanks for your service !!!! Oh yeah,, before you leave office, will you get reparations for blacks 60 years old and over for a million dollar check sent out ,,no questions and forgive all tax debts so people can have a clean slate going into 2025 ,,,,, thx !!!

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  2. Thank you Joe, you did an amazing job for the United States, and of course capped off the most successful presidential run in the last 50 years with a selfless act to strengthen our country! You are a great man!

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  3. You can see the teleprompter in the window's reflection. Poor Joe. He had to step down. His mind is slipping. He wasn't the decision maker. Good speech but it's propaganda. Who was speaking for Joe?

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  4. Edited and still had umpteen flubs. Use your vote this year, I don't care who you vote for, just vote.
    And remember, the lesser of two evils is still evil. ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ

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  5. What a joke! Is this guy for real? Lying bumbling Idiot! Just who does this guy think he's fooling. Our nation Our borders etc are all messed up and this sorry excuse of a man is trying to convince us everythingis great Sure Pal! Worst President ever

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  6. โคโคTHANK YOU SIR
    GOD BLESS YOU๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ
    Mrs. Rlene
    Always Ridin with Biden

    Reply
  7. Not a democrat but I do sincerely feel bad for him. You can tell heโ€™s not all there anymore and his mind is goingโ€ฆ. This is just sad to watch.

    Reply

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