President Joe Biden delivered a prime-time speech from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening following his announcement earlier this week that he would not seek re-election.

He spoke about the legacy of the presidency, expressed his love for the office, and explained why he was stepping down from the campaign and handing the reins to his VP, Kamala Harris. “The defense of democracy, which is at stake, is more important than any title,” he said.

“I’ve made it clear that America is at an inflection point,” he continued, echoing words spoken by his press secretary earlier that day, “one of those rare moments in history where the decisions we make now will determine the fate of our nation and the world for decades to come. America is going to have to choose between moving forward or backward. Between hope and hate, between unity and division,” he said.

Biden stumbled over his words before addressing the necessity of “character in public life.” He spoke about the need to “unite to protect” democracy and said he left the race to “unite” his party. “In recent weeks,” he said, “it’s become clear to me that I need to unite my party in this critical endeavor. I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future, all merited a second term.”

“Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy, and that includes personal ambition. And I’ve decided that the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That’s the best way to unite our nation. You know, there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, there’s also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, and yes, younger voices, and that time and a place is now.”

Biden: "I believe my record as President, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future, all merited a second term. But nothing—nothing—can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition." pic.twitter.com/lMv92E5fi5

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 25, 2024

Biden emphasized his point by tapping on his desk, clearly indicating that the way to unite his party was to offer a candidate who people believed could win, suggesting his debate performance against Trump showed he couldn’t. His press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, had stated that Biden was not stepping down due to health concerns and encouraged reporters to watch his speech.

In his address, Biden explained he stepped out of the race for his political party and because he realized he was too old to win. He is 81 years old.

He promised to continue his duties and claimed that, as part of his job, he’s “the first president in this century to be able to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world.” However, the US is currently providing substantial financial and military support to Ukraine and is also supporting both sides of the conflict in Israel after a terror attack on that nation in October 2023.

Biden then addressed the conflict between the US and Russia, stating, “we’ll keep rallying a coalition of proud nations to stop Putin from taking over Ukraine and doing more damage.” He promised to make NATO “more powerful and more united than at any time in history.”

Biden: "I'm the first President in this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world." pic.twitter.com/7t5URtQf6a

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 25, 2024

Biden proceeded to highlight his accomplishments, attempting to solidify his legacy for his three and a half years in office. He emphasized his record on diversity, including appointing a Supreme Court justice based on race and sex. He also praised his first DEI hire, VP Kamala Harris, who he chose as his running mate after promising to select a black woman for that position.

“Whether we keep our republic is in your hands,” he said. The speech sounded more like a farewell at the end of a term than that of a man who still has a job until January.

“History is in your hands, the power is in your hands, the idea of America lies in your hands,” he said, suggesting that only the unelected VP, to whom the nomination was given without a single vote, is the democratic choice to lead. “You just have to keep faith, keep the faith.

“Remember who we are, we are the United States of America, and there is simply nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together. So let’s act together, preserve our democracy.”