In a rare and emotional Oval Office address, President Joe Biden announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2024 presidential race, a decision he said came from a deep love of country over personal ambition. Speaking from behind the Resolute Desk, surrounded by portraits of past leaders, Biden reflected on the lessons of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt, and the importance of unity, decency, and democracy.
Biden acknowledged the nation’s crossroads, warning that America must choose between progress and regression, hope and hate. While proud of his record—historic job growth, rising wages, reduced inflation, landmark climate and healthcare legislation, the lowest violent crime rate in fifty years, and strengthened alliances—he said the defense of democracy required passing the torch to a new generation.
Over the next six months, Biden pledged to continue lowering costs for families, protecting civil rights, combating extremism, addressing climate change, advancing his “Cancer Moonshot,” supporting Supreme Court reform, and safeguarding America’s leadership abroad. He celebrated the nation’s recovery from the pandemic, economic crisis, and political turmoil, noting achievements from revitalizing manufacturing to reducing prescription drug prices for seniors.
Biden spoke of his gratitude to Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her tough, capable, and an exceptional partner. He urged Americans to remember the nation’s founding promise—that all are created equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and to protect the republic, quoting Benjamin Franklin’s reminder that it endures only “if you can keep it.”
Choking back emotion, Biden reflected on his improbable journey from a stuttering boy in Scranton to the presidency, calling America a land of possibilities. He closed with a call for unity, faith in one another, and the shared responsibility to defend democracy, ending with: “May God bless you all, and may God protect our troops.”
