'History is in your hands': Biden urges America to save democracy as he passes the torch

President Joe Biden delivered a historic speech from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, formally communicating his plans to step down from seeking another term, giving his blessing to Vice President Kamala Harris — and urging Americans to unite and work to save their democracy.

"I'm surrounded by portraits of extraordinary American presidents," said Biden. "Thomas Jefferson wrote the immortal words that guide this nation. George Washington showed us presidents are not kings. Abraham Lincoln implored us to reject malice. Franklin Roosevelt, who inspired us to reject fear. I revere the office. I love my country more. It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president, but the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think, is more important than a title."

"We are a great nation because we are good people," Biden continued. "Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation."

Biden vowed to spend the final months of his term continuing to fight inflation, curb Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions in Ukraine, and end the war in Gaza — and urged Americans to look at how much progress had been made since the start of his term, with a pandemic killing hundreds of thousands and a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, to the present day, with the racial wealth gap reduced to record lows, health care access at an all-time high, a huge drop in violent crime, and U.S. manufacturing rebounding to a level not seen in decades.

"I ran for president four years ago because I believed, and still do, that the soul of America was at stake, the very nature of who we are was at stake, and that's still the case," said Biden. "America is an idea. An idea stronger and any army, bigger than any ocean, more power than any dictator ... we've never fully lived up to it, to this sacred idea, but we've never walked away from it, and I don't believe the American people will walk away from it now."

He concluded by saying: "History lies in your hands ... use it to keep faith, keep the faith, and remember who we are."

Watch the speech below or at the link here.

Biden delivers speech on passing the torchyoutu.be