Biden’s goodbye hours before Donald Trump’s inauguration: "I’m not going anywhere"

Chijioke Obinna

Biden's goodbye hours before Donald Trump's inauguration: "I'm not going anywhere"

The outgoing US president, Joe Biden, spent his last full day in office this Sunday in South Carolina, the state that strengthened its candidacy for the elections in 2020and in addition to calling for hope, he stressed: “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Must hold on to hope. We must stay committed, always keep faith that a better day is yet to come. I’m not going anywhere“said the 82-year-old president in the town of Charleston.

On a visit to that same state in January 2024, he had already stressed that I wouldn’t be in power without the people of South Carolina. “You are the reason I am president,” he told them then.

About to hand over command this Monday to Republican Donald Trump, the outgoing president stressed that same idea: “I would not be in this pulpit without Jim Clyburn,” he said in reference to the support received from that state congressman.

“I prayed with you here in February 2020, when I ran for president. In my last full day as president“This was of all places the place I wanted to be,” he stressed this Sunday from the Royal Missionary Baptist Church, the same one he visited in that year’s campaign.

On a day in which he pardoned five people, including the black nationalist Marcus Garvey, Biden also influenced the power of mercy and justice.

“With experience, wisdom, awareness, compassion and science, we know how Healing and restoring harm is a path to the kind of communities we want to live in.where there is equity, justice and responsibility,” he said.

Inauguration ceremonies of Donald Trump

Biden spoke the same weekend in which Trump’s inauguration ceremonies have begunwho this Sunday woke up in Washington to participate in an offering at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery.

The elected president, who was already in power from 2017 to 2021, arrived in Washington on Saturday and this Sunday he will offer a speech at the Capital One Arena, the same stadium where part of the celebration of his inauguration will take place on Monday after the events moved indoors due to the expected low temperatures.

Chijioke Obinna

I've been passionate about storytelling and journalism since my early days growing up in Lagos. With a background in political science and years of experience in investigative reporting, I aim to bring nuanced perspectives to pressing global issues. Outside of writing, I enjoy exploring Nigeria’s vibrant cultural scene and mentoring young aspiring journalists.