With the decision to step down from the upcoming election looming, US President Joe Biden is preparing for what might be his final Oval Office speech on Wednesday. He aims to clarify his departure from the election race in November and refute any claims of being a mere lame duck for the next six months.
Amidst the attention already focused on the impending showdown between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Biden will emphasize that he still has unfinished business despite his historic choice to withdraw.
In his primetime televised address at 8:00 pm (0000 GMT Thursday), the 81-year-old Democrat will discuss the future and his commitment to completing tasks for the American people.
This speech, anticipated to run for eight to ten minutes, marks Biden’s first public address post his exit from the race, which came after mounting pressure following a lackluster debate performance against Trump.
During his announcement of withdrawal while battling Covid at his Delaware residence, Biden pledged to provide further details regarding his unexpected decision.
This address comes shortly after his previous Oval Office speech following an assassination attempt on Trump, making it just the fourth of his presidency and possibly the final one.
Challenged by the active campaigning of both Harris, who seems to have secured the Democratic presidential nomination, and Trump, Biden faces an uphill battle to prove he remains relevant.
Amid calls from Republicans for his resignation, Biden asserts that he still holds valuable contributions, notably in the economy and in striving for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Biden, gearing up to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, believes they are on the brink of brokerin a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Joining a line of past presidents seeking a Middle East peace deal, Biden follows in the footsteps of predecessors like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and even Donald Trump.
In an ever-evolving landscape, Netanyahu is set to have separate meetings with Harris and Trump post Biden’s address to Congress, with Trump planning to meet the Israeli leader at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Expressing his delight at being back at the White House, Biden shared that he has already engaged with his national security team following his return from Delaware.
His decision to step down has reinvigorated the Democratic Party, which was amidst turmoil fueled by debates over his age.
Moving forward, Harris faces the task of sustaining this newfound energy and translating it into electoral success come November.
Trump, gearing up for his first rally since Harris emerged as the probable nominee, is expected to ramp up his critiques, with a recent poll showing Harris slightly ahead post Biden’s withdrawal.
Post Biden’s departure, the impact on disenchanted Americans disinterested in the prolonged Biden-Trump rivalry is becoming more evident.
Vote.org reported a substantial surge in voter registrations, with close to 40,000 new voters registered in just 48 hours after Biden’s revelation, marking a significant increase in daily registrations.
CEO Andrea Hailey highlighted this milestone as the largest influx of new voter registrations seen throughout the entire electoral cycle.
AFP