CV NEWS FEED // President Joe Biden delivered a short address to the nation from the White House on Wednesday night, his first live remarks since ending his reelection bid four days earlier.
During the speech, the embattled president said that while he felt like he deserved another term, he dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris to “save our democracy.”
“My fellow Americans, I’m speaking to you tonight from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office,” Biden began. “It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title.”
“But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me, it’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘we the people,’” he continued. “In recent weeks it has become clear to me that I needed to unite my party in this critical endeavor. 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,” he stressed. “That includes personal ambition.”
“So, I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said:
It’s the best way to unite our nation. You know, there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life. There’s also a time and a place for new voices. Fresh voices. Yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.
“In the next six months, I’ll be focused on doing my job as president,” Biden stated, making clear he would not be resigning.
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Several notable conservatives, including Vice Presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance, R-OH, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, have called on Biden to resign, arguing that if he is not fit to continue his reelection campaign he must be considered unfit to serve as president.
Biden went on to claim victory in several policy areas during his Wednesday address, including foreign policy, the economy, COVID-19, crime, and the border crisis.
“Border crossings are lower today than when the previous administration left office,” he said, continuing his frequent practice of refusing to say Trump’s name.
“I ran for president four years ago because I believed and still do that the soul of America was at stake,” Biden said. “The very nature of who we are was at stake. And that’s still the case.”
“America is an idea,” he claimed. “We never fully lived up to it, this sacred idea.”
“In just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America’s future,” Biden stated. “I made my choice. I’ve made my views known.”
He called his endorsee Harris a “great vice president,” adding “she’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable.”
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“I have given my heart and my soul to our nation,” he said. “The great thing about America is, here, kings and dictators don’t rule, the people do.”
“History is in your hands,” he tasked viewers. “The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands. We just have to keep faith. Keep the faith.”
“So, let’s act together,” he concluded. “Preserve our democracy.”
