Joe Biden delivered a farewell address to the nation this weekend, marking the end of his presidency shortly after his 82nd birthday. In his speech, Biden reflected on his tenure, claiming his administration left the country in a better state despite the resounding defeat in the 2024 election.
“One thing I’ve always believed about public service, and especially the presidency, is the importance of asking ourselves, ‘Have we left the country in better shape than we found it?’” Biden said. “Tonight, I can say with all my heart, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Because of you, because of you… and I promised we would have an administration that looks like America, that taps into the full talents of our nation.”
Biden tells Americans they're better off because of his presidency — despite Americans overwhelmingly rejecting his party in the election pic.twitter.com/lD7dmqa6MW
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 23, 2024
Biden addressed the challenges his administration faced, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic struggles, and the January 6 riots. “We’re leaving America in a better place today. When we came into office four years ago, this country was living through the worst pandemic in over 100 years. Our economy was in a tailspin. We just witnessed something we thought we’d never see in America—a violent insurrection on January the 6th. But we’ve come a long way since then,” he said.
He touted his administration’s achievements, including bipartisan legislative efforts, adding, “I fully believe America is better positioned to lead the world today than at any point in my 50 years of public service.”
However, critics argue that Americans are worse off today than four years ago. Inflation has surged under the Biden administration, creating significant financial strain on families. U.S. credit card debt has skyrocketed past $1.4 trillion as rising costs outpace incomes.
On the international front, Biden’s policies have raised concerns about global stability. The world edges closer to potential conflict as reports emerge of discussions to provide Ukraine with nuclear weapons, escalating tensions with Russia after earlier deliveries of long-range missiles.
As the speech concluded, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden praised her husband’s legacy, becoming emotional as she highlighted his impact. Meanwhile, detractors criticized Biden’s decades-long political career, alleging he has lived off government paychecks while leveraging his office for personal and family gain.
