US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he is “passing the torch to a new generation” to unite the country, as he addressed the nation for the first time since quitting the presidential race.
The 81-year-old said there is a time and place for younger voices, as he explained his move to end the re-election bid and called upon voters to defend the country’s democracy.
“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation,” Biden said.
He asserted that the decision to withdraw from the fight for the president’s post was in defence of democracy. However, he did not directly name Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, whom he has been referring to as a threat to democracy.
“I revere this office, but I love my country more. It’s been the honour of my life to serve as your President. But in the defence of democracy, which is at stake, it’s more important than any title,” Joe Biden said.
“A cause of American democracy itself must unite to protect it…It’s become clear to me that I need to unite my party in this critical endeavour. I believe my record as President, my leadership in the world, and my vision for America’s future all merit a second term, but nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” he further stated.
The US President said that despite drawing “strength” and finding joy in “working for the American people”, the sacred task of “perfecting our union” is not about him but the citizens, their “families (and) future”.
“It’s about we, the people…I believe America is at inflexion,” he added.
On July 21, Joe Biden announced his exit from the White House race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. The decision followed a crisis in his electoral prospects after his abysmal debate against Donald Trump last month, where Biden looked clueless and spoke haltingly while failing to rebut the Republican nominee’s attacks.
The Democratic Party saw a mutiny against the US President, who was seeking re-election, with heavyweights including former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also pressing for his exit, raising concerns over his fitness for the White House job.
In his Oval Office address, Joe Biden called Kamala Harris “tough” and “capable” of facing Donald Trump in the November 5 election.
“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.
“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,” he explained.
Biden called this election year “one of those rare moments in history” when the decisions made now would determine the “fate” of America and “the world for decades to come”.
“Americans are going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division. We have to decide if we still believe in honesty, decency, respect, freedom, justice and democracy,” he said.
In his speech, Biden invoked previous presidents, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as he described his love for the office.
Further, he promised to complete his remaining six months as the US President, underscoring that he had a busy to-do list. The 81-year-old mentioned that he will work to end the war in Gaza, continue rallying support for Ukraine, and push for Supreme Court reform.