President Biden addressed the nation for about 11 minutes from the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Sitting behind the Resolute Desk, surrounded by portraits of the US president, Biden spoke about his decision to halt his re-election campaign and laid out plans for the remainder of his term.
The 81-year-old president also spoke repeatedly about “defending democracy” after recovering from a reported case of COVID-19 last week.
Here are five key takeaways from Vice President Harris’ speech at a critical time in the election cycle, as he vie for the Democratic presidential nomination with the support of Biden.
Biden decides to withdraw from the 2024 race and intends to complete his term in the White House
President Biden pauses at the end of his address to the nation about his decision to abandon the Democratic presidential re-election bid in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)
1. Biden explains his decision to withdraw from the campaign
The president said that when he was elected, he promised to “always be honest with you and tell you the truth.”
The truth is, Biden said, “this country’s sacred cause is greater than any of us” and those committed to “the cause of American democracy must come together to protect it.”
“In recent weeks, it has become clear to me that I need to unite my party on this critical effort. I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, and my vision for America’s future are worthy of re-election “That included personal ambition. So I decided the best way forward was to pass the torch to a new generation. It was the best way to unite our country. You know, there was a time and a place where there were years of experience in public life as well. Time and place for new sounds.
2. Biden vows to reform the Supreme Court
The president laid out his plans for the remaining six months of his first term.
“I will call for Supreme Court reform because this is critical to our democracy, Supreme Court reform,” Biden said, without elaborating.
He also vowed to “continue to lower costs for hard-working families,” grow the economy and defend individual liberties and civil rights “from the right to vote to the right to choose.” The president said he remains committed to the “cancer moonshot,” part of his 2020 campaign promise to end cancer as we know it and mobilize the federal government to accelerate progress in cancer research.
President Biden addresses the nation on monitors in the White House Press Briefing Room, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsiva)
Trump abruptly withdraws from 2024 race, slams Biden Oval Office address as ‘terrible’: ‘This is a coup’
3. Biden condemned political violence but did not directly mention the assassination attempt against former President Trump.
“I will continue to call out hatred and extremism. Make it clear [that] There is no political violence or any violence anywhere in the United States. That’s it,” Biden said, laying out his priorities for the remainder of his term.
Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sending shockwaves throughout the Republican Party, which formally appointed him as its nominee next week.
4. Biden mentioned “kings and dictators” as he reiterated support for Harris as Democratic presidential nominee
“I want to thank our great Vice President Kamala Harris. She’s experienced. She’s strong. She’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner of mine and a leader for our country. The choice now is To you, the American people,” Biden said.
The president recalled that when Franklin came out of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, he was asked whether the country was a monarchy or a republic.
Franklin famously responded: “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Biden also touted his more than 50 years of service to the country.
“That’s the great thing about America, kings and dictators don’t rule. The people rule,” he said. Biden has previously accused Trump of wanting to become a dictator.
Biden noted that the United States has emerged from “the worst pandemic in a century and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.” [and] This is the most serious attack on our democracy since the Civil War.
President Biden pauses before addressing the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)
5. Biden boasts that he is the first U.S. president this century to have no Americans involved in a war anywhere in the world.
“I will continue to work to ensure that America remains strong and secure as the leader of the free world. I am the first president this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world,” Biden said. The assertion comes as the Biden administration comes under heavy criticism for its failure to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
During last month’s debate with Trump, Biden claimed that no U.S. troops had been killed during his tenure, but shockingly omitted the 13 U.S. service members who were killed at the monastery gates.
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In his Oval Office address, Biden also vowed to “continue to unite a coalition of proud nations” to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin from taking over Ukraine, pledging to make NATO “stronger than at any time in our history.” Stronger and more united,” and said he would support Pacific allies, saying it was no longer “conventional wisdom” that China would surpass the United States.
Regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Biden vowed to “end the war in Gaza, bring back all the hostages, and bring peace and security to the Middle East.”
