US President Joe Biden, in one of the last addresses from the Oval Office in the White House, informed the nation that he would not fight for another term and that he would "pass the torch to new generations", but he did not explain himself why he is one of the few presidents. that he withdrew from the battle for re-election.

The last time in America it was done by the democrats Lyndon Johnson in 1968 and Harry Truman in 1952, but both were not elected to the position, but took it as the vice president – ​​Johnson after the assassination of John Kennedy, and Truman after the death of Franklin Roosevelt. Both of them, unlike Biden, dropped out of the re-election campaign after poor performances in the early caucuses of a presidential candidate. Biden practically had no opponent among the Democrats, who supported him until his unconvincing performance in the duel with the Republican opponent Donald Trump.

By withdrawing three and a half months before the election, Biden avoided the mistake that Republican George Bush (Senior) made in 1992. Bush has steadfastly rejected calls from the conservative wing of the party to drop out of the race, especially after polls showed challenger Bill Clinton leading by double-digit percentage points. At the time, however, none of the Republican congressmen publicly asked Bush to step down. In November, Bush lost by just 6 percentage points, less than half of what the polls had projected.

In his address, however, Biden did not explain why he decided to step down so late, just days after saying he felt vital and fit for another term. White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre also declined to comment, saying it was "not about his health" and dismissed reports that information about Biden's cognitive abilities was being withheld.

He actually echoed what his fellow party members were saying – that it was time to pass the torch to a new generation, to be led by the "experienced, tough and capable" Kamala Harris, the current vice president.

– I respect this position, but I love my country more. I decided that the best way to move forward was to pass the torch to a new generation. It is the best way to unite our nation - began Biden.

Everything else in the 11-minute speech was an attempt to present his mandate as a success.

– I believe that my work as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for the future of America, all of that deserved a second term. But nothing, nothing must prevent saving our democracy. It also includes personal ambitions. So I decided that the best way forward was to pass the torch to a new generation. That is the best way to unite our nation - said the president.

Biden confirmed that he will be focused on fulfilling his obligations as president until the end of his term on January 20, 2025.

– I will continue to reduce costs for working families and grow our economy. I will continue to defend our personal freedoms and our civil rights, from the right to vote to the right to choose - said Biden.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who lost the election to Biden four years ago, called the president's speech "barely comprehensible" and "bad," but immediately turned his energy against his new opponent, Vice President Harris.

– For three and a half years, liar Kamala Harris has been the ultra-liberal driver behind every Biden disaster. She is a crazy radical leftist who will destroy our country if she even gets a chance to get into office - said Trump.

The new candidate of the Democrats, on the other hand, is energetically filling her campaign, which has already been reflected by a slight jump in her rating in the polls.

– At this moment we are facing two different visions for our nation, one focused on the future and the other focused on the past. With your support, I am fighting for the future of our nation - said Harris at a rally in Indianapolis.