President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday night about his decision to drop out of the presidential race in his first public appearance since the decision was made. In a video address of just over 11 minutes, Biden spoke from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, after having spent nearly a week sequestered in his Delaware home, reportedly recovering from COVID-19. “I revere this office, but I love my country more,” the president remarked. “It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president,” he added, claiming that “the defense of democracy” is “at stake and is more important than any title.”
“I’ve made it clear that I believe America’s at an inflection point, one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now may determine the fate of our nation and the world for decades to come,” Biden continued. “America’s going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division. We have to decide, do we still believe in honesty, decency, respect, freedom, justice, and democracy?”
“In this moment,” Biden said, “we can see those we disagree with not as enemies but as…” The president stumbled over the word “friends” before moving to “fellow Americans.”
“When you elected me to this office, I promised to always level with you,” the president said. “And the truth, the sacred cause of this country, is larger than any one of us. And those of us who cherry [sic] that cause, cherish it so much, the cause of American democracy itself, we should unite to protect it.”
“You know, in recent weeks, it’s become clear to me, I need to unite my party in this critical endeavor,” Biden continued. Turning to his decision to retire his reelection campaign, Biden explained, “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.” Of note, Biden did not at any point in his address provide a clear reason for ending his campaign, he did not address concerns over his health and cognitive state, and he did not make any mention of endorsing his Vice President, Kamala Harris.
“I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” the president said. “It’s the best way to unite our nation. You know, there’s a time and 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.”
“In just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America’s future. I made my choice, I’ve made my views known,” Biden intoned. The closest the president came to reiterating his endorsement of Harris was in saying, “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.
Biden then turned his attention to the remainder of his term in the White House. “Over the next six months, I’ll be focused on doing my job as president,” he stated. “That means I’ll continue to lower costs for hardworking families, grow our economy, I’ll keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights, from the right to vote to the right to choose,” referring to abortion. Biden also noted his focus on gun control, climate change, “Supreme Court reform,” and “my cancer moonshot, so we can end cancer as we know it because we can do it.”
In a moment that has been widely “fact-checked” by conservatives on social media, Biden also claimed that during his term his administration has achieved a 50-year-low in crime rates and that “border crossings are lower today than when the previous administration left office.” He also boasted of appointing “the first black woman to the Supreme Court.”
“God bless you all, and may God protect our troops,” Biden concluded, just moments after claiming that American troops are not involved in any wars anywhere in the world.
Numerous social media comments suggested that the video may have been pre-recorded. One social media user commented, “Blink twice if you need help.” Another quipped, “This will go down in history as the most viewed hostage video of all time.”
