Washington: US President Joe Biden, 81, made his first address to the nation after abruptly pulling out of the US presidential race, where he would have competed against rival Donald Trump, and passing the torch to his second-in-command Kamala Harris. In his remarks, Biden said he revered the office, but asserted that democracy was at stake and it was more important than any title.
"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 defense of democracy, which is a stake, I think it’s more important than any title. I draw strength and I find joy in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our union, it’s not about me, it's about you, your families, your futures. It's about we, the people," Biden said from the Oval Office.
The President further said the best way forward is to "pass the torch" to a new generation" and that he needed to unite the Democratic Party in a critical time when it saw deep divisions and was seemingly about to be swept by a Trump wave. "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've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," he added.
These are Biden's first extended public remarks since he pulled out from the high-stakes presidential race after weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats to withdraw after his poor debate performance against Trump last month. He announced on Sunday that he will not seek re-election in November, making him the first incumbent president to not contest since Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
Since he stepped aside, however, Democrats have rallied around him, paying tribute to his character and his record as president. They have also overwhelmingly supported Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to take on Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance after becoming the party's official nominee at the Democratic National Convention.
Why did Biden end his re-election bid?
The president struggled to put down a slow-boil uprising among some congressional Democrats and some influential donors who fear he lacks the capacity to defeat Trump in light of his halting performance in the presidential debate last month. Despite this, the 81-year-old President remained adamant, saying that only 'God Almighty' could persuade him to withdraw from the race.
Biden is also one of the oldest candidates to contest for the office in US history. Since the day of his announcement of his re-election bid, apprehensions have been raised about his age and effectiveness as the President. A majority of Americans disapprove of the way he’s handling his job, and he’s faced persistently low approval ratings on key issues including the economy and immigration.
Biden's political career began when he was elected to the Senate in 1972 at age 29, becoming the sixth youngest US senator. He will conclude his White House tenure on January 20, 2025, as the oldest American president when he will have already turned 82. It was the fourth time Biden used the formal setting of the Oval Office since taking office in 2021.
(with inputs from Reuters)
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