On Wednesday, President Joe Biden addressed the nation in a rare Oval Office appearance, announcing his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and outlining what he plans to focus on over the next six months.
Below is the full transcript of his speech.
THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans, tonight I speak to you from the Oval Office, seated behind the Resolute Desk.
Around me hang portraits of some of our greatest presidents. Thomas Jefferson, whose words continue to guide our nation. George Washington, who reminded us that presidents are not kings. Abraham Lincoln, who urged us to rise above hatred. And Franklin Roosevelt, who taught us to face fear with courage.
I want to be clear: I love my country more than I love this office.
Serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. But democracy itself matters more than any position or title, and today it faces real danger.
The work of leading this nation gives me strength and fills me with joy. But this mission is not about me—it’s about you, your families, and your future. It’s always been about “We the People.” I have never forgotten that, and neither should we.
I’ve long said America is at a turning point. Few times in our history have our choices mattered so much, shaping not just our country but the world for generations. We must choose between progress and retreat, unity or division, hope or hatred.
The question is simple: Do we still believe in freedom, justice, democracy, honesty, and respect for one another?
I believe we do—because I know the American people. Our strength as a nation comes from our goodness as a people.
When you entrusted me with this office, I promised to always be honest with you. The truth is, the cause of democracy is bigger than any one individual. All of us who value it must stand together to defend it.
In recent weeks, I realized that uniting my party and my country required something more. And while I am proud of my record, my leadership, and my vision for America’s future, I know this moment calls for a new generation to take the lead.
That is why I’ve decided to pass the torch. It is the best way to bring us together.
Experience has its place, but so does fresh energy and new voices—especially now. This is their time.
Over the next six months, I will remain focused on my work as president: lowering costs for working families, growing the economy, defending civil rights and personal freedoms, and standing firmly against hate and extremism. I will continue to insist that political violence has no place in America.
I’ll keep pushing to protect children from gun violence and to fight the climate crisis. I will carry on with my Cancer Moonshot initiative to finally end cancer as we know it. And I will continue advocating for reform of the Supreme Court, because it is vital to our democracy.
I will work to keep America safe, strong, and a leader in the free world. Today, for the first time this century, the United States is not engaged in a major war. And I intend to keep it that way.
We will continue to rally our allies against Russian aggression in Ukraine, strengthen NATO like never before, and reinforce our partnerships in the Pacific.
We have proven that China will not surpass us as once predicted, and I will keep working to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, to free hostages, and to end the conflict in Gaza. We remain committed to bringing home all Americans unjustly detained abroad.
Looking back, when I took the oath of office, our nation faced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the gravest assault on our democracy since the Civil War, and the deadliest pandemic in a century. Together, as Americans, we overcame them.
Today, we are stronger, more secure, and more resilient. The U.S. economy is the strongest in the world, with nearly 16 million jobs created, rising wages, falling inflation, and the narrowest racial wealth gap in two decades.
We are rebuilding America—its cities, suburbs, rural towns, and tribal communities. We are once again a manufacturing powerhouse, leading the world in innovation, science, and technology.
After years of struggle, we cut prescription drug costs for seniors, and I’ll keep fighting to make medicine more affordable for everyone. More Americans now have health care than at any time in history. We passed historic climate legislation, the most sweeping gun safety law in 30 years, and violent crime has fallen to its lowest rate in half a century.
We strengthened our borders, with fewer illegal crossings than when I took office. And I kept my promise to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. My administration reflects the diversity of America, and I have served as president for all Americans.
The reason I ran four years ago was because I believed the soul of America was at stake. That belief remains true today.
America is not just a place—it’s an idea. Stronger than any army, larger than any ocean, and greater than any tyrant. The idea that all people are created equal, endowed with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We’ve never fully lived up to it, but we’ve never abandoned it either. And I know we won’t now.
In just a few months, the future of America will once again be in your hands.
I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris. She is tough, experienced, and capable. She has been an extraordinary partner and a leader for our nation.
But ultimately, the decision belongs to you, the American people. As Benjamin Franklin once said, when asked what form of government the Founders had created: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Now it is up to us to keep it.
For over 50 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving this country. Only in America could a boy from Scranton, who once struggled with a stutter, rise to become president and sit behind the Resolute Desk.
That is what makes America unique: a nation of possibilities, where ordinary people achieve extraordinary things.
Like so many of you, I have given my heart and soul to this country. And in return, the love and support I have received from the American people has been the greatest gift of my life.
Always remember: here, power does not rest with kings or dictators—it rests with the people. The fate of our nation, the promise of America, lies in your hands.
If we stand together, faithful to who we are, there is nothing we cannot achieve. Let us join as one nation to protect our democracy.
May God bless you all, and may God keep our troops safe.