President Joe Biden addressed the nation Wednesday night from the Oval Office in his first public remarks since dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
President Biden said he is “passing the torch to a new generation” as he explained his abrupt departure from the 2024 presidential race to Americans for the first time, in an Oval Office address capping over 50 years in politics.
“I revere this office,” President Biden said. “But I love my country more.”
President Biden, 81, rebuffed weeks of pressure from Democrats to step aside after the June 27 debate.
“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,” President Biden said.
It is President Biden’s first extended public remarks since he announced on Sunday via social media that he had decided not to seek reelection on Nov. 5.
President Biden returned to the White House Tuesday afternoon from his home in Delaware where he was recovering from COVID-19.
“Obviously, he stepped down from running and being the nominee, but he’s very much still the president,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday during an interview with ABC’s “The View.”
“He still has the job, and we have a lot more to get done on behalf of the American people,” she said, praising President Biden’s decision to step aside.
“What we saw from [President Biden] the last couple of days was human decency, a good man, someone who decided not to put himself first—like we’ve seen before—but to put the American people first,” the press secretary said.
President Biden has fully endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement, calling her “an extraordinary partner.” She quickly consolidated support among delegates and secured enough support to become the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Her Republican rival former President Donald Trump said he would like to debate Ms. Harris more than once ahead of the November election. Former President Trump rallied supporters in North Carolina on Wednesday, his first campaign event since President Biden exited the race.
Reuters contributed to this report.