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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Joe Biden is dedicating his final full day in office on Sunday to South Carolina, a state that holds significant emotional value, having played a crucial role in his 2020 Democratic primary victory, which ultimately led to his ascent to the presidency.
On the eve of the inauguration of Donald Trump, the incoming Republican president, Biden bids farewell from the state that he often refers to as the one that “brought him to the dance.” As hostages began to be released due to a ceasefire in the Middle East, a peace deal facilitated by the U.S., he shared his thoughts on the responsibilities that the new administration will face.
Accompanied by his wife, Jill Biden, the president attended the Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, where he participated in a worship service and discussed the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with Monday marking the federal holiday in honor of the civil rights pioneer.
Prior to his address at the church, Biden expressed relief that “the guns in Gaza have gone silent” due to an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement he had previously outlined in May. He also provided updates on the three hostages released that day, who “appear to be in good health,” and shared advice intended for Trump regarding the implementation of the peace deal.
“It is now up to the next administration to carry forward this agreement. I was glad to see our team present a unified front during the final days,” Biden remarked.
“Achieving success will demand persistence, ongoing support for our allies in the region, and a belief in diplomacy backed by deterrence,” he noted.
Following his remarks, the Bidens settled into the front pew while several hundred congregants filled the church with gospel music, with a choir performing from the pulpit before shifting the focus to honoring Dr. King.
After the church service, the Bidens are expected to tour the International African American Museum, built on a site that historically received tens of thousands of enslaved Africans from the late 1760s to 1808, as outlined on the museum’s website.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, a significant ally of Biden’s, stated the visit serves as a gesture of gratitude towards South Carolina. “Joe Biden is showing who he truly is by returning to the state that propelled him towards the presidency,” Clyburn said in an interview.
Biden had addressed the nation in a televised farewell on Wednesday. Reflecting back on 2020, his campaign initially struggled after defeats in New Hampshire, Iowa, and Nevada. However, a crucial victory in South Carolina—where Black voters constitute a majority of Democrats—revitalized his campaign, bolstered by Clyburn’s endorsement.
“I know Joe. We know Joe. But most importantly, Joe knows us,” Clyburn had expressed during that pivotal time.
After winning the presidency and taking office, Biden advocated for South Carolina to lead the Democratic Party’s primary process for 2024, choosing it over New Hampshire. He secured victory in the state’s primary yet again that year.
“In 2020, it was the voters of South Carolina who defied expectations, revitalized our campaign, and set us on the road to securing the presidency,” Biden commented after his second primary win. “Now in 2024, the citizens of South Carolina have once more made their voices heard, undoubtedly guiding us towards winning the presidency again—and ensuring Donald Trump is a loser once more.”
However, the situation did not unfold as anticipated. After a lackluster performance in a debate against Trump, Biden withdrew from the race under pressure from fellow Democrats, although Clyburn notably did not exert such pressure.
Biden then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who ultimately replaced him as the Democratic nominee, but she lost to Trump. Clyburn mentioned that Biden expressed a desire to visit the African American history museum, which Clyburn helped establish, and they planned to spend quality time there.
“This is his way of saying ‘thank you,’” Clyburn concluded.
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