Biden warns that America's 'soul' is at risk as Trump's
potential comeback nears.
US President Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that the
"soul of America" remains at risk as he prepared to deliver his
farewell address ahead of Donald Trump’s potential return to the political
stage.
At 82, Biden is set to deliver a primetime speech from the
Oval Office, during which he is expected to highlight the achievements of his
single term in office.
In advance of the speech, scheduled for 8:00 pm (0100 GMT
Thursday), Biden released a letter to the American people, which appeared to
indirectly criticize Trump.
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“I ran for president because I believed that the soul of
America was at stake. The very nature of who we are was at stake. And that’s
still the case,” Biden wrote.
“History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The
idea of America lies in your hands. We just have to keep the faith and remember
who we are,” he continued.
Reflecting on his time in office, Biden noted that the
United States was in a stronger position than it was four years ago, when it
faced challenges such as the aftermath of Trump’s chaotic first term, the
COVID-19 pandemic, and what he described as “the worst attack on our democracy
since the Civil War.”
Biden assumed office just days after the January 6, 2021,
attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters attempting to overturn the 2020
election.
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While Biden didn’t mention Trump directly, his remarks
echoed previous comments about the existential threat posed to the nation’s
values by Trump and his supporters.
Biden also asked the White House to release a comprehensive list of his administration's accomplishments, including progress on the economy, healthcare, and climate.
He emphasized that the U.S. now has the
“strongest economy in the world” and is successfully addressing inflation,
despite public frustration over rising living costs that influenced the
Democratic loss in the midterms.
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In his final days in office, Biden has worked to solidify a
legacy that has been overshadowed by doubts about his age and decision to run
for a second term.
After struggling during a debate against Trump in June,
Biden was forced to withdraw from the 2024 race, as Trump, 78, went on to win a
decisive victory over Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris.
Biden reflected on his career, stating it had been “the
privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years.”
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The farewell address is a long-standing tradition for U.S. presidents. George Washington set the precedent in 1796 with a letter that emphasized national unity as he declined a third term.
The tradition continued into the 20th century with radio and television, with Harry Truman being the first president to deliver his farewell address from the Oval Office in 1953.
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