WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is set to address the nation in a farewell speech on Wednesday evening, taking what could be his last chance to influence how Americans perceive his presidency before leaving the Oval Office.
The president will speak at 8 p.m. ET, continuing a series of addresses that focus on domestic and foreign policy initiatives aimed at solidifying his legacy. Earlier that day, he celebrated the announcement of a much-anticipated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which has the potential to bring an end to over a year of conflict in the region.
However, Biden’s exit from the presidency is not occurring as he had envisioned. He initially sought reelection despite concerns over his age—turning 86 by the end of a second term. After a challenging debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump, Biden ultimately withdrew from the race amid pressure from members of his own party.
He later offered his support to Vice President Kamala Harris, who faced defeat against Trump in the November elections. Now, Biden prepares to hand over the reins to a competitor he has referred to as a significant threat to the nation’s democratic framework.
In a reflective open letter released earlier on Wednesday, Biden seems to recognize that some of his promises remain unachieved, stating, “I ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake.”
He stressed that the identity of the nation is still in jeopardy, and the letter went on to highlight several achievements from his administration, including navigating the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting domestic manufacturing, and making prescription drugs more affordable.
This address will mark the conclusion of not just Biden’s tenure but also his extensive career spanning five decades in politics. He began his journey as the youngest senator in U.S. history at the age of 30, having been elected to represent Delaware in 1972.
Biden made previous attempts at the presidency in 1988 and 2008 before serving as Vice President under Barack Obama. After completing two terms in that role, it appeared he would retire from public life, yet he unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee in the 2020 election, successfully unseating Trump.
“Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as President of the United States,” he expressed in his letter. “I have given my heart and my soul to our nation. And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people.”
