WNAM REPORT: United States President Joe Biden has made his first public address since dropping his re-election bid, saying he pulled out of the race against Republican challenger Donald Trump to unite his party and save the country’s democracy.
The 81-year-old politician struck a sombre tone on Wednesday as he sat behind the Resolute Desk at the Oval Office of the White House, and announced that it was “time to pass the torch” to younger voices.
The decision, which Biden first announced on Sunday, followed weeks of pressure from top allies in the Democratic Party after his halting performance against Trump in late June. His withdrawal has upended the already unprecedented race and thrust Vice President Kamala Harris into the spotlight as the Democratic party’s heir apparent to take on Trump in November.
Here are the key takeaways from Biden’s 11-minute speech:
‘Defence of democracy’
Biden did not mention Trump during his address, but it was clear that the Democratic incumbent was referring to the former president when he said the future of the country’s democracy was at stake in the upcoming election.
“I revere this office, but I love my country more,” Biden said in the opening minutes of his speech. “It’s been the honour of my life to serve as your president. But in the defence of democracy, which is at stake, I think it is more important than any title.”
The US was at an “inflexion point”, he said, adding that the upcoming months will “determine the fate of our nation and the world”.
“We have to decide, do we still believe in honesty, decency, respect, freedom, justice and democracy? In this moment, we can see those we disagree with, not as enemies, but as fellow Americans. Can we do that?” he asked.
