President Joe Biden addressed the nation Wednesday from the Oval Workplace for the primary time since asserting Sunday that he wouldn’t search re-election.
In what was successfully a stump speech for Vice President Kamala Harris, his most popular successor, Biden appealed to “democracy” and the “American thought.” The president didn’t clarify why he was dropping out of the race or reassure the American those that he can lead the nation for the subsequent six months.
“America has to decide on between shifting ahead and shifting backward,” he mentioned.
“If you elected me to this workplace, I promised that I’d all the time stand with you, let you know the reality,” Biden continued. The president then lists accomplishments, comparable to appointing the primary black girl to the Supreme Court docket and “securing” the southern border.
The president hoped to attain a number of targets, comparable to curing most cancers, earlier than the tip of his time period. “I’ll proceed to battle for my most cancers moonshot in order that we all know we will finish most cancers,” she mentioned. “We are able to do it.”
However the alleged distinctive nature of the 2024 election cycle was his recurring theme. “The very nature of who we’re is at stake,” he concluded. “The wonderful thing about America is that right here, kings and dictators do not rule; individuals do Historical past is in your arms. The ability is in your arms.”
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The president didn’t present additional readability on his determination to withdraw from the Democratic nomination, or tackle the marketing campaign by occasion bosses to oust him after his poor debate efficiency on June 27.
The president additionally didn’t reveal why he had not made any public appearances earlier than Tuesday, a choice that sparked wild hypothesis about his situation.
