Washington: In a statement from the Oval Office on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden stated that he ended his re-election campaign to “unify my party” with the overarching objective of defending American democracy, which goes above “personal ambition.”
The moment was right, in his opinion, to “pass the torch to a new generation.”
After recovering from a COVID-19 infection, Biden returned to the White House on Tuesday from Delaware, where he had spent time in isolation. He began his speech haltingly but soon found his natural tone and tenor. He explained why he was stepping down and paved the way for his party and the nation to preserve and advance the democratic system that the founding fathers had left us.
Sitting at the Resolute Desk, he addressed the public from the Oval Office for almost eleven minutes, wearing a blue tie. Democrats use the colour blue to denote their party allegiance.
“In recent weeks, it’s become clear to me that I need to unite my party in this critical endeavor,” Biden said, protecting American democracy.
“I believe my record as President, my leadership of the world, my vision of America’s future, all merited a second term, but nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy that includes personal ambition.”
In response to growing pressure from his party to make room for a new contender following a disappointing performance in the first presidential debate, where he struggled to articulate his policies and was overshadowed by his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, Biden, 81, announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential contest on Sunday.
He previously stated that he would discuss his reasoning in a later speech, which he gave on Wednesday in a highly anticipated prime-time speech.
The President listed the accomplishments of his presidency: he led a stronger NATO to avert Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, lowered the cost of diabetes medications, named an African-American woman to the Supreme Court, freed the nation from the grip of COVID-19, and proposed a plan for resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict. For the first time in a century, the United States was not at war.
Nevertheless, he concluded that it was time for him to pass it on to the next generation.
“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.”
Biden claimed that he had made his decision apparent by publicly endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, for president, stating that she was a capable leader who could continue the work he started.
“History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America – lies in your hands.”
Photo: IANS
