Joe Biden has told Americans it is time to “pass the torch to a new generation”, in an Oval Office address to explain why stepped aside from the presidential race.
The US President, whose political career has spanned more than 50 years, said he ended his bid for re-election because “I revere this office, but I love my country more. It’s been the honour of my life to serve this country as President.”
In an 11-minute speech, he added: “Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy, that includes personal ambition.
“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule. The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands.
“The defence of democracy is more important than any title. I draw strength, and find joy, in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our Union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures.
“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation.”
He added that he wanted to make room for “fresh voices, yes, younger voices.
“Over the next six months I will be focused on doing my job as President. That means I will continue to lower costs for hard-working families and grow our economy. I will keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights – from the right to vote – to the right to choose.”
His speech, his fourth from the Oval Office as President, marked his first public remarks since he responded to pressure from fellow Democrats and announced he had decided not to seek reelection.
His last Oval Office speech was on 15 July when he urged Americans to cool the political rhetoric after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
He had faced calls to step aside, after his rocky performance in the debate against the Republican presidential candidate raised troubling questions about his mental acuity.
The White House has denied Biden has any cognitive issues despite a recent increase in gaffes.
Just hours before his address, Trump attacked his new Democratic rival Kamala Harris, claiming she was the “ultra-liberal driving force” who should be held responsible for the Biden administration’s policies on immigration.
“As border czar, Kamala threw open our borders that allowed 20 million illegal aliens to stampede into our country from all over the world,” Trump said at a North Carolina rally, his first since Biden bowed out of the race.
The President had put Harris in charge of working with countries in Central America to help stem migration, but she was not given responsibility for border security nor was she named “border czar.”
To the roars of the crowd, the former president described the Vice President as the most liberal politician ever elected in American history.
“She will destroy our country if she ever gets elected,” the former president said at the event in Charlotte, North Carolina – one of a handful of battleground states considered crucial to winning the 5 November presidential election.
Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as Vice President, would become the first woman elected president if she wins.
Additional reporting from agencies