Joe Biden is set to address the nation on Thursday following a significant electoral defeat for his Democratic Party at the hands of Republican Donald Trump, whose remarkable political resurgence has drawn global attention. The former vice president will speak at 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT), according to a White House announcement.
At 78, Biden had pledged to run again for the presidency after his 2016 loss to Democrat Hillary Clinton but struggled to reverse a steady decline in national opinion polls, which consistently showed him trailing Trump both nationally and in key battleground states. His decision to withdraw from the race was revealed on Sunday morning at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with his wife and two closest aides by his side. Ultimately, it wasn’t any single poll or a wavering supporter that convinced Biden he had “virtually no path back” to a competitive campaign, according to a source familiar with his mindset. Instead, he felt increasingly distanced from close advisors, lawmakers, and key donors — some of whom had urged him to step down before the Democratic convention.
The person said that after a meeting with his longtime aides Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti, Biden realized that he was going to have to end the race and that it was best for everyone involved to do so at this point rather than risk damaging the Democratic Party ahead of the crucial midterm elections. They had been armed with information that made it clear that the path back to a winning campaign was impossible, including declining national and swing state poll numbers and defections from the party hierarchy.
In a video posted on his X account, Biden also called for a new beginning for America that focuses on rebuilding the economy and fighting for the working class, especially minorities. He said Harris would bring a fresh perspective to the job and that she is an “extraordinary” and “deeply moral person.”
Among those applauding Biden on X was California Rep. Jared Huffman, a close Harris ally who had raised concerns about a virtual roll call vote on the nomination and argued against allowing delegates to change their minds in a late shift. “This was an important moment for our country,” he wrote, adding that he is now “ready to hit the campaign trail for Kamala!”
Throughout his 36 years in the Senate, Biden worked with Democrats to pass the Violence Against Women Act and oversee the most significant economic recovery plan in history. He was a leading voice on issues of importance to the Democratic base and sought to strengthen American leadership on the world stage. He is the father of four children and a grandfather of seven. He has lived in Delaware for the past 44 years. His family consists of his wife, Jill Jacobs, a professor of history at the University of Delaware, and their children, Ashley Blazer Biden, Benny Biden, Joe Biden, and Jill Biden. He is an avid sailor and golfer.
