Biden Announces Decision Not to Seek Reelection as Harris and Trump Begin Campaigning
Washington – President Joe Biden will address the nation from the Oval Office Wednesday evening, not only explaining his surprising decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, but also marking the beginning of the end of his presidency and half-century public service career.
Forsaking his role as the expected Democratic nominee, Biden has shelved the task of persuading the nation of his capability to battle former President Donald Trump in an election touted as crucial for the democratic fabric of the country.
Harris and Trump Begin Campaigning
Following Biden’s political endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, it is clear that he’s accepted the argument presented by fellow Democrats—an argument citing his political incapacity to run for a second term. His 8 p.m. ET address will be the first detailed commentary on the issue since his Sunday statement that he would not be running for re-election. This will also be his first major public appearance since his positive Covid-19 diagnosis last week.
The president intends to use this prime-time broadcast to illuminate the American people about his decision-making process, which he stated in his letter last Sunday as being “in the best interest of my party and the country.”
Historical Significance of Oval Office Addresses
Historically, Oval Office addresses have been significant moments for presidents to speak to the American public during national crises or prior to setting forth major policy announcements. Biden has addressed the nation from the Oval Office only three times previously during his presidency. His major policy addresses have included topics such as last year’s Hamas attack on Israel and the bipartisan budget agreement.
Biden’s Covid-19 Recovery and Planning Address
After testing negative for Covid-19, Biden returned to the White House on Tuesday and began drafting his much-anticipated address while isolating at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, according to senior officials. Like all of Biden’s public addresses throughout his career, it is expected that this speech will be fine-tuned until the moment of delivery.
Debate still rages as to how much of the speech will focus on his core achievements during his three-and-a-half-year term, versus how much he will outline his priorities for the six months remaining before he exits the White House.
The Harris and Trump Campaigns
Harris, having secured enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination, launched her campaign in the strategically significant battleground state of Wisconsin yesterday. Her intention is to differentiate herself from Trump, who is hosting his first campaign rally since Biden’s announcement in North Carolina on Wednesday.
Biden’s Legacy and Future Plans
As Biden briefly called into the Harris campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday, he vowed to achieve as much as possible during his remaining time in office. Meanwhile, the party is moving forward without his candidacy and focusing on securing his legacy. High-profile fundraisers are being reassigned from coast to coast to support Harris’s campaign.
In terms of his legacy, Biden is expected to focus his attention on it in the coming days and weeks. However, discussions about his legacy have not earnestly begun, given that his decision to withdraw from the 2024 race is only a few days old.
When asked by a reporter about what to expect from his address upon deboarding Air Force One on Tuesday, Biden simply responded: “Watch and listen.”
