Biden to Address Nation Following 2024 Race Exit

President Joe Biden is set to deliver a significant speech on Wednesday evening at 8 PM ET from the Oval Office, marking his first extensive communication with the public since his unexpected withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. The announcement comes after weeks of Biden asserting his intention to run, culminating in his decision on Sunday. The president has been recuperating at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, after testing positive for Covid-19 nearly a week ago, but is expected to return to the White House on Tuesday. In a brief call to his former campaign headquarters, Biden expressed his commitment to remaining actively involved in the campaign and the final months of his presidency. Despite stepping back from the race, he reassured supporters that he would be “fully engaged” in both domestic and foreign policy initiatives. “I won’t be on the ticket, but I am still going to be fully, fully engaged,” he stated, emphasizing his determination to accomplish as much as possible in his remaining time in office. Biden acknowledged that his decision to exit the race was “surprising,” but he maintained it was the right choice. He encouraged his former campaign staff to support Vice President Kamala Harris, who has secured enough delegate backing to clinch the party’s nomination next month. The upcoming address is notable, as prime-time Oval Office speeches are rare, and it will be Biden's second such address this month. This historic moment parallels President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1968 announcement of his own withdrawal from the race, highlighting the significance of Biden's decision as the first president in over a generation to opt out of seeking a second term.