07/24 – International News Update

WASHINGTON D.C. —

President Joe Biden addressed the nation in a live speech from the Oval Office in Washington D.C. on Wednesday evening. 

Biden announced directly to voters on Wednesday his decision to abandon his reelection campaign and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate, citing the need to unite the country and safeguard democracy.

In his Oval Office address, Biden, 81, emphasized that the defense of democracy outweighs personal ambition, reflecting on his 50 years in public office.

“But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition,” he said. “So I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation.”, said the President. [Reuters] 

Biden praised his Vice President Kamala Harris as a strong leader, capable of guiding the nation forward, and expressed confidence in her ability to win the presidency. 

“She’s experienced, she’s tough, she’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country. Now the choice is up to you, the American people,” he said. [Reuters] 

In his address, President Biden aimed to highlight the election’s significance, portraying it as a pivotal choice between freedom and chaos, a narrative both he and Vice President Harris have emphasized. Despite this, Biden avoided overtly campaigning from his official capacity.

“The beauty of America is that it is not ruled by kings or dictators,” Biden stated. “The power belongs to the people. History is shaped by your hands. The essence of America is in your hands.” [AP News] 

Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American vice president, has since gained substantial support and financial donations within the Democratic Party and invigorated its election campaign.

Biden asserted that as he transitions out of his presidential bid, he remains focused on his current term’s agenda, including lowering costs for families, defending civil rights, and addressing climate change.  

He outlined an extensive agenda for his remaining six months in office, committing to stay dedicated to his presidential duties until his term concludes on January 20, 2025. Biden vowed to work on ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, increasing government support for cancer research, tackling climate change, and advocating for Supreme Court reform. [AP News] 

The Democratic National Committee plans to formally nominate Harris by early August, with a significant fundraising surge already bolstering her campaign.

This is undoubtedly a historic moment. A sitting U.S. president explaining to the nation his rare decision to voluntarily relinquish power and step away from the nomination. Such a step hasn’t been taken since 1968, when Lyndon Johnson declared he would not seek reelection amidst the Vietnam War. 

“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for “fresh voices, yes, younger voices.” – “That is the best way to unite our nation.” 

Opinion: 

The announcement finally came three days after the President revealed his decision to withdraw from the race via a letter posted on the social media platform X. 

Until earlier today, Biden had not been seen publicly for almost a week, following reports of his COVID diagnosis. The absence of any public appearances or trustworthy communications from the President in the days surrounding his monumental decision led to growing suspicion and mounting theories among citizens. 

His choice to withdraw followed a challenging June debate with Donald Trump, which raised doubts about his ability to secure another term. This was compounded by several public political blunders and resulted in overwhelming pressure from within his own party to step down. 

The Democrats are now focusing on the ‘passing the torch’ and ‘new generation’ narrative as their key strategy to win the election. This can be seen through what is being carved out to be Kamala Harris’ emerging campaign slogan, “We’re not going back.” 

They aim to turn around the age argument, Biden’s biggest detriment, to their advantage by positioning 59-year-old Kamala Harris against 78-year-old Donald Trump.

– P.T.