Biden says ‘passing the torch’ in speech after ending 2024 presidential bid

President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that 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,” Biden said. “But I love my country more.” Biden, 81, had faced weeks of pressure from Democrats to step aside after a disastrous debate performance on June 27, stating at one point that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to go. “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 said.

The decision came after days of soul-searching and agonizing over internal polling that predicted he could lose against Republican Donald Trump in November, potentially dragging down fellow Democrats with him. “The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule. The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America – lies in your hands,” Biden stated.

This address marked Biden’s first extended public remarks since he announced via social media on Sunday that he would not seek reelection on November 5. Biden is the first incumbent president to forgo reelection since Lyndon Johnson in 1968, who withdrew amid criticism over the Vietnam War, told Time Magazine.

Biden joined a group of presidents, including James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, Calvin Coolidge, and Harry Truman, who decided not to run for a second elected term. Calls for Biden to step aside intensified after his rocky debate performance against Trump, raising questions about his mental acuity. Despite this, since his announcement, Democrats have rallied around him, paying tribute to his character and presidential record.

Earlier in the evening, a crowd of staff gathered in the White House to watch the speech together. An official reported that a reception and “viewing party” were held across the White House’s state floor for Biden’s address.

The White House has consistently denied any cognitive issues affecting Biden, despite a recent increase in verbal slip-ups. Biden stated that he would focus on his presidential duties over his remaining six months in office. He is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to discuss efforts to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire.

This was the fourth time Biden used the formal setting of the Oval Office since taking office in 2021. His previous Oval Office speech on July 15 urged Americans to cool political rhetoric following the attempted assassination of Trump.

Biden’s political career began when he was elected to the Senate in 1972 at age 29, becoming the sixth youngest U.S. senator. He will conclude his White House tenure on January 20, 2025, as the oldest American president, having already turned 82.

“The defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden said. “I draw strength, and find joy, in working for the American people. 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.’”