In his farewell address, Biden aims to reshape views on his presidency and reflect on his legacy
Tonight, he’s giving a farewell speech, which might be his last chance to change how folks see his presidency before he leaves the White House. He’s set to speak at 8 p.m. ET from the Oval Office, focusing on his legacy and touching on both domestic and foreign issues. Earlier today, he celebrated a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which could finally bring some peace to the Middle East after a long time of conflict.
But let’s be real, Biden isn’t leaving the White House the way he wanted. He tried to run for reelection, even though people were worried about him being 86 if he won a second term. After a rough debate with Trump, he had to bow out under pressure from his own party.
He’s now backing Vice President Kamala Harris, who unfortunately lost to Trump in November. Biden is getting ready to hand over the reins to someone he sees as a real threat to democracy.
In an open letter released this morning, he admitted that he didn’t fulfill all his promises. He wrote, “I ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake.” He emphasized that this belief still stands.
The letter also highlighted some of his achievements, like helping the country recover from the pandemic, boosting domestic manufacturing, and working to lower prescription drug costs.
Tonight’s speech will mark the end of not just his presidency but also his long political career. Biden was once the youngest senator at just 30, representing Delaware since 1972.
He tried for the presidency in 1988 and 2008 before becoming Obama’s vice president. After two terms, he seemed to be done with politics, but he made a surprising comeback as the Democratic nominee in 2020, defeating Trump.
In his letter, he reflected on his journey, saying, “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.” He expressed his deep love for the nation and gratitude for the support he received from the American people.
