Biden farewell speech live updates: outgoing president to speak days before Trump retakes office

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Biden to deliver farewell address from the Oval Office

President Joe Biden will speak from the White House, delivering a final address to the country at 8pm eastern time. Biden set the tone for the speech in a letter released by the White House earlier today in which he touted his record on the economy and underscored the challenges facing the US when he assumed office, noting the “peril” of the pandemic and ensuing economic disruption, and the insurrectionary violence of January 6.

“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,” he wrote in the letter.

The last time Biden delivered a speech to the nation from the Oval Office was in July, when he announced his decision to end his presidential campaign.

This address comes just hours after news broke that Israel and Hamas had reached a deal to secure a ceasefire after 15 months of bloodshed in the Gaza strip. The deal, which is expected to involve the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli detention, comes after months of Biden’s threats and pleas for Israel to change its conduct in Gaza while thousands of civilians died.

The address also comes just five days before Donald Trump, who Biden has called a threat to democracy, takes office.

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Joe Biden isn’t the only one trying to salvage his presidential legacy.

In an interview published by the Washington Post this morning, Jill Biden worried about public perceptions of her husband and sounded a note of irritation at Biden’s critics in the Democratic Party, including Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker.

“Sure,” she said, when asked whether Biden could have governed for another four years.

Joe Biden’s farewell address, which will offer him an opportunity to make a final case for his legacy to the American public, comes at a time of persistently poor polling for the president: according to a CNN poll released today, about 36% of adults say they believe Biden is doing a good job, with his favorability rating at closer to 33%.

President Biden gives remarks on Israel/Hamas ceasefire deal. President Joe Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, arrive to give remarks in the Entrance Hall of the White House in Washington DC, USA, 15 January 2025. Israel and Hamas announced they had come to a ceasefire and hostage deal. EPA/AARON SCHWARTZ / POOL
President Joe Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, arrive to give remarks in the Entrance Hall of the White House in Washington DC, USA, 15 January 2025. EPA/AARON SCHWARTZ / POOL Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/EPA

Biden to deliver farewell address from the Oval Office

President Joe Biden will speak from the White House, delivering a final address to the country at 8pm eastern time. Biden set the tone for the speech in a letter released by the White House earlier today in which he touted his record on the economy and underscored the challenges facing the US when he assumed office, noting the “peril” of the pandemic and ensuing economic disruption, and the insurrectionary violence of January 6.

“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,” he wrote in the letter.

The last time Biden delivered a speech to the nation from the Oval Office was in July, when he announced his decision to end his presidential campaign.

This address comes just hours after news broke that Israel and Hamas had reached a deal to secure a ceasefire after 15 months of bloodshed in the Gaza strip. The deal, which is expected to involve the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli detention, comes after months of Biden’s threats and pleas for Israel to change its conduct in Gaza while thousands of civilians died.

The address also comes just five days before Donald Trump, who Biden has called a threat to democracy, takes office.

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