'America, I gave my best to you,' Biden bids US farewell
Less than a month after US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the upcoming presidential race, paving the way for his Vice President Kamala Harris to run, Biden delivered a speech on Tuesday emphasizing that there is no place for political violence in the United States. He called for an assault weapons ban and noted a decrease in illegal border crossings.
Biden also reiterated his commitment to securing the release of captives and ending the war in Gaza, while preventing the conflict from expanding further.
Biden Holds Trump Accountable
In a pointed message to former President Donald Trump, who recently referred to the American nation as "a failed state," Biden countered by saying, "Trump is the failure. We are leading the world, and who else can do that but us?"
He criticized Trump for contributing to a significant increase in national debt and accused him of now seeking to cut taxes for the wealthy.
Defending American Democracy
Speaking at the Democratic Party convention, Biden declared, "We are in a battle to preserve the soul of the United States, and our best days are not behind us, but ahead." He emphasized that "democracy has prevailed and must now be protected." The speech was seen as a symbolic passing of the political torch to Harris, whom the Democratic Party will officially nominate to succeed him.
Biden reminded the audience that 81 million Americans voted for them in the previous election to save democracy, and he was determined to rebuild the middle class, serving as a president for all Americans, whether they voted for him or not.
He acknowledged that there is still much work to be done but stated, "We are moving in the right direction." Biden highlighted the infrastructure upgrades made under his administration, including roads, airports, and ports, and noted that Trump failed to deliver on his promises to build any infrastructure.
Biden admitted to making mistakes in his political career but said he always gave his best.
He concluded by praising the achievements made alongside Vice President Harris, saying, "Our economy is the strongest in the world after the COVID-19 pandemic."
