President Joe Biden has addressed the nation from the Oval Office to explain his decision not to seek reelection in the upcoming general election.
The main message behind his address was that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title…It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People.’”
Through their rhetoric, in reference to the opposing party, the Democrats question the health of democracy. This has been the general discourse employed by Democrats since Trump refused to concede the 2020 election, and this was also obvious in Biden’s speech.
President Biden proclaimed he “made his choice,” referring to the political future of the United States of America.
The President explains his decision to drop out of the race
Joe Biden used his airtime from the Oval Office to explain to the American public how he decided he would not bid for reelection in November.
He described his decision to step down from the race as “the best way to unite our country.” Biden also expressed his support and gratitude to Vice President Kamala Harris and described her as a “strong and capable leader.”
President Joe Biden used his primetime opportunity to talk about his greatest achievements during his time in office and to tell the public what his focus would be during the last six months of his presidency.
Biden said he would continue reducing costs for Americans and fighting the effects of climate change. He also mentioned job creation and healthcare as key achievements of his administration.
Biden asserted that his main focus for the remaining six months will be to “stop the war in Gaza” and prevent Putin from continuing the war in Ukraine.
Prior to his speech, CNN reported that Joe Biden and his communications official Mike Donilon began working on his speech immediately after announcing he was stepping down from the race.
Joe Biden: “The best way forward is passing the torch to a new generation”
Additionally, to explain his decision to step down, President Biden said he has decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.
His commitment is clear, said Biden, in that he put Kamala Harris in the Vice President’s office. She is the first woman of mixed race to hold such a position.
He has also appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Afro-American woman to be confirmed in the Supreme Court.
President Biden remarked on the importance of this year’s general election. He said that “America’s future is at stake.” He also predicted that this election will show that “decency will still prevail.”
Finally, Biden stated he will keep striving to improve life for Americans in his final six months in office. “That means I will continue to lower costs for hard-working families and grow our economy. I will keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights—from the right to vote to the right to choose,” he concluded.
