WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has announced he will deliver a primetime address from the White House at 8pm ET on Wednesday about his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.
“I will be speaking to the nation from the Oval Office about what’s coming next and how we’re going to get the job done for the American people,” the president said in a post on X.
In addition to providing details about his exit from the race, Biden also wants to talk about what he plans to do for the remainder of his term, a source familiar with his remarks told NBC News.
Biden issued a letter on Sunday saying he would not accept the Democratic nomination and then endorsed his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, as his top choice in his place. Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 days ago and delayed commenting publicly on the decision.
Biden said in the letter that he believes it is in the “best interest” of the country and the Democratic Party for him to step down.
“While I had intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to step down and focus on fulfilling the duties of my presidency for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a statement. Letter, posted on X date“I will speak to the public in more detail about my decision later this week.”
Biden is scheduled to return to the White House on Tuesday afternoon after leaving Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he was self-isolating last week while recovering from COVID-19.
Biden and his aides had already begun preparations for Monday’s speech, according to two people familiar with the matter, and continued drafting it while the president was in Rehoboth in anticipation of it being his first major event after returning to Washington.
Biden plans to address the American people first upon his return, the people said.
