President Joe Biden mumbled his way through an 11-minute address to the nation and claimed he could serve another four years if he wanted to.
Biden, 81 spoke quietly, at times haltingly, and his voice was scratchy as he explained his stunning decision not to seek re-election.
He had chosen to ‘pass the torch’ to Vice President Kamala Harris because it was time for ‘younger voices’ and he believed that would ‘unite’ the country and ‘save’ democracy.
Biden looked intently into the camera during the primetime address for which he wa seated behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
He said: ‘I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term.
‘But nothing, nothing, can come in the way of saving our democracy that includes personal ambition, so I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.’
He added: ‘There is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life. There’s also a time and a place for new voices fresh voices. Yes, younger voices.’
Biden, 81, did not mention the issue of his own age and health, which has undermined his presidency from the start, and intensified following a disastrous debate performance last month.
That led senior Democrats to call for him to exit the 2024 presidential race.
As Biden spoke his wife Jill Biden and children Hunter and Ashley sat to his left along a wall watching his valedictory.
Also present were Biden grandchildren including Naomi Biden Neal and her husband Peter Neal, young Hunter Biden (the late Beau Biden’s son) and Maisy Biden.
The family broke into applause when the president was done speaking. Jill Biden joined him at the Resolute Desk. Hunter Biden gave his dad a hug.
Biden, who has just recovered from a bout of COVID fumbled briefly in his delivery, mumbling at times.
But he used the address to outline his legacy and note he has more work to do in the six months he has left in office.
President Joe Biden, in an Oval Office address, revealed why he decided to step down as the Democratic nominee
From right: Jill Biden, Ashley Biden and husband Howard Krein, and Hunter Biden and his daugther Finnegan listen to Joe Biden speak
Hunter Biden gives his dad a hug
He said: ‘I revere this office but I love my country more.
‘It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president but the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think is more important than a title.’
Biden made it clear he is stepping down voluntarily, drawing a stark contrast with his predecessor.
He did not mention Donald Trump by name but talked about how the country is more important than ambition to stay in the Oval Office.
‘America is an idea – an idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator,’ Biden said.
As the president spoke, his staff were gathered one floor up, on the state floor of the White House, to watch his remarks with wine and pizza.
Before the speech began, staffers were spotted walking in from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is across the street of the West Wing, into the White House proper for the event.
Biden’s decision to step down sent shock waves through out the political world and closed out more than 50 years in politics.
He endorsed Harris to be his nominee and turned over his campaign infrastructure to her. The campaign renamed itself ‘Harris for President.’
Within 30 hours Harris had pledges from enough delegates to win the presidential nomination.
In his speech on Wednesday night, Biden didn’t explicity endorse Harris but noted he’s ‘made my views known.
‘I made my choice. I’ve made my views known. I’d like to thank our great Vice President Kamala Harris. She’s experienced. She’s tough. She’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.’
‘Now the choice is up to you, the American people,’ he said in reference to the upcoming election.
Hunter Biden, his daughter Finnegan, Howard Krein, Ashley Biden and Jill Biden in the Oval
Jill Biden joined Joe Biden at the Resolute Desk when he finished his speech
President Joe Biden returning to Delaware after being diagnosised with COVID
Delegates will nominate their ticket virtually betewen August 1-7 ahead of the Democratic National Convention, which kicks off August 19th in Chicago.
The president returned to the White House on Tuesday after spending six days isolating in his Rehoboth Beach house, where he was suffering from COVID.
He has canceled a West Coast fundraising swing scheduled for the end of the week.
He will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday.
He spent weeks rebuffing pressure from those in his party to step down as its nominee. On Sunday, he bowed to the inevitable.
Biden is the first incumbent president not to seek reelection since 1968 when Lyndon Johnson, under fire for his handling of the Vietnam War, abruptly pulled out of the campaign on March 31.
The president also joins James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, Calvin Coolidge and Harry Truman as presidents who all decided not to stand for a second elected term.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday denied there was a ‘coverup’ of Biden’s declining health and mental capabilities by the staff and Biden family members.
Biden’s top spokesperson was grilled repeatedly about Biden’s apparent change of heart when it came to a second term and denied his health had anything to do with the decision.
During her press briefing – the first since Biden’s historic decision to step down as the Democratic nominee – Fox News‘ Peter Doocy asked her: ‘It would seem that people in this White House knew that President Biden was slipping and it was hidden from the American people – so who ordered White House officials to coverup a declining president?’
‘There’s been no coverup,’ she replied.
For weeks Jean-Pierre and other aides denied Biden was considering leaving the presidential race. For months, they denied reports his health was on the decline. But, on the June 26th presidential debate, Biden repeatedly fumbled for words and froze on camera, leading to questions from his own party about his ability to serve a secod term in the White House. On Sunday, Biden announced he was stepping down as the party’s nominee.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied there was a ‘coverup’ of President Joe Biden ‘s health and mental capabilities
She said the president made his decision in ‘very short period of time.’
Jean-Pierre pushed back against reports that aides, lawmakers and Democratic officials had noticed for months that Biden was on the decline.
She also said his health was not a factor in his decision to exit the presidential race.
‘It has nothing to do with his health,’ she said. ‘I can say, no, that’s not the reason.’
She also called calls for the president to resign from office ‘ridiculous.’
There have been questions as to why, if Biden can’t serve four more years, he can serve six more months.
Jean-Pierre argued that Biden was capable of serving out a full second term.
‘He didn’t step down from from campaigning or from running because he didn’t believe he can serve in a second term. That is not why,’ she said.
