“The defense of democracy is more important than any title”

AP/EFE agencies

Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Joe Biden, President of the United States, explained yesterday from the Oval Office of the White House his decision to give up his re-election bid and focus on supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden’s remarks gave the public a chance to hear firsthand the reasons he decided to drop out of the race after insisting for weeks that he considered himself the best candidate to take on former President Donald Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to the country’s democracy. It also gave him a chance to try to outline how history will view his single term in office.

“Defending democracy is more important than any title,” Biden said. “Nothing, nothing can stand in the way of saving our democracy. And that includes personal ambition.”

“I revere this position, but I love my country more,” he added.

Biden, in his address to the nation, said he would continue to work “to end the war in Gaza” in his remaining six months in the White House.

“I will continue to work to end the war in Gaza, bring home all the hostages and bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war,” the president said.

He also vowed to continue “bringing together a coalition of nations to stop” Russian President Vladimir Putin “from taking over Ukraine” and to work “day and night” to return to the U.S. “Americans who are unjustly detained around the world.”