In a rare and highly anticipated televised address from the Oval Office on Wednesday night, President Joe Biden took the opportunity to outline how he hopes to be remembered by history. This marked his first public comments since his unexpected announcement on Sunday to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Biden began by highlighting his many accomplishments, recalling his humble beginnings, and praising the resilience and spirit of the American people. He stressed that the future of American democracy lies in the hands of its citizens.
Yet, amidst his promises of transparency, he did not directly address the most pressing question on everyone’s mind: Why did he decide to become the first sitting president to withdraw from a re-election campaign just months before voting was set to begin?
Although he skirted around the issue, leaving the American public to piece together the rationale from his words, Biden did provide some hints. He emphasized the need to unite his party and echoed a growing sentiment among Democrats about the necessity of passing the torch to a new generation.
Biden listed his achievements, arguing that they warranted a second term, but he concluded with a statement that overshadowed personal ambition: “Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy.” What he left unspoken was the harsh reality that his decision was influenced by the increasing likelihood of losing to Donald Trump in November—an outcome his party views as disastrous.
Biden’s campaign had been floundering. He was trailing in the polls, had suffered an embarrassing debate performance, and faced mounting pressure within the Democratic Party to step aside. The path to a Biden victory had become increasingly uncertain.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, just hours before Biden’s address, was quick to capitalize on Biden’s withdrawal. He claimed Biden dropped out because he was losing badly and then directed his attacks at Kamala Harris, the newly presumed Democratic nominee. Trump branded her as a “radical left lunatic” and blamed her for every perceived Biden failure.
Republican groups have been aggressively targeting Harris, attempting to shape public perception of her before she can define herself to voters. According to the Associated Press, Trump’s side is set to outspend Democrats by a ratio of 25-to-1 over the next month in key battleground states.
Biden’s address was an opportunity to counter these attacks and affirm his confidence in Harris. However, he largely passed on this chance. Although he praised Harris as “experienced, tough, capable,” and “an incredible partner for me and a leader for our country,” he spent more time discussing historical figures like Benjamin Franklin than his vice-president.
With limited support from Biden, Harris and her team must now decide how to respond to the Republican onslaught. Biden might have another opportunity to endorse Harris at the Democratic convention in Chicago next month. However, this is a critical period for Harris as her campaign gains momentum and she introduces herself to the American electorate.
Biden might have shied away from overt political maneuvering in what could be his final Oval Office address. However, if he is concerned about his legacy, Harris’s success or failure will be crucial. It will determine whether history views Biden as a leader who made a noble sacrifice for his country or one who endangered his party by clinging to power for too long.