Biden makes first speech since withdrawing from the election

US President Joe Biden delivers his first address to the nation since withdrawing from the presidential election on Wednesday (24). Biden endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him when he announced his withdrawal.

In his speech on Wednesday (24), Biden once again praised Kamala, saying: “Harris is experienced, resilient and capable.”

“In just a few months, the American people choose the course of America’s future,” Biden said in a rare Oval Office address on Wednesday (24).

He added: “I have made my choice. I have made my views known. I want to thank our great Vice President Kamala Harris. She is experienced. She is tough. She is capable. She has been an incredible partner to me and a leader of our country. Now the choice is up to you, the American people: You make that choice.”

Harris quickly consolidated party support and became the presumptive Democratic nominee earlier this week.

The US president said he was “passing the torch to a new generation” as he explained his exit from the 2024 presidential race to Americans for the first time.

Biden had announced his decision to leave the re-election campaign on Sunday (21) through a letter on his official X account.

“I believe it is in the best interest of my party and country that I step down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term,” he said.

Kamala Harris has not yet been officially nominated as the Democratic candidate by the party but is considered the most likely candidate, as she has already secured enough support from delegates (a figure in the United States electoral system) for the nomination.

History of statements

US President Joe Biden has addressed the nation from the Oval Office just three times since becoming president.

Oval Office speeches are rare, especially in recent history, with Biden and former Presidents Barack Obama and Trump using the medium only a handful of times.

Check out the full list of oval addresses since 2008:

Biden

• July 14, 2024, after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
• October 20, 2023, following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
• June 2, 2023, after avoiding a catastrophic default.

Trump

• March 11, 2020 on the Covid-19 pandemic.
• January 8, 2019 on immigration amid partial government shutdown.

Obama

• December 6, 2015, on his administration’s plan to defeat ISIS after the San Bernardino shooting.
• August 31, 2010 officially declaring the end of combat operations in Iraq.
• June 15, 2010, regarding the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill.

Before Obama, the Oval Address—though rare—was a much more frequent fixture, with George W. Bush addressing the nation in this manner six times during his presidency and Bill Clinton doing so 15 times. Reagan holds the record with 29 speeches during his two terms.