Joe Biden delivered a solemn farewell speech to the United Nations on Tuesday, in which he spoke of using his own judgment. US President drops out of election Warning of the dangers of dictators around the world who refuse to relinquish power.
“My fellow leaders, we must never forget this — some things are more important than staying in power,” Biden said to thunderous applause in his final speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The 81-year-old president called on world leaders to stand up for democracy amid growing turmoil and conflict, urged support for Ukraine and pushed for peace in the Middle East. The isolationist and election-denying president could be ousted six weeks before the vote Donald Trump returns to the White HouseBiden concluded his remarks with lessons from his own life.
He said during the summer he had to make a “difficult decision” about whether to seek a second term.
“Being president has been the honor of my life, and I want to do more,” Biden said. “As much as I love this job, I love my country. I decided after 50 years of public service it was time for a new generation of leadership to lead our country forward.”
Biden then told the assembled leaders, “It’s your people that matter most.”
history wiped out
Biden withdrew from the White House race after a fraught TV debate against Trump in July that raised concerns about his mental acuity, and he He supported his Vice President Kamala Harris. as the Democratic nominee.
Both allies and adversaries are now keeping a close eye on the US election on November 5 to see if Trump and his “America First” foreign policy will return. Biden’s speech attempted to burnish his legacy after one term, while effectively urging other world leaders to protect it from a possible return of Trump.
Biden said he has witnessed “a remarkable transformation of history” during five decades of public service and, while the world grapples with a series of crises, “we must never forget that things can be better.”
He repeatedly emphasized the importance of U.S. alliances, many of which Republicans have repeatedly questioned. Reflecting on the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 to end his country’s two decades of involvement, Biden said he thinks about the American soldiers killed by bombs during the withdrawal “every single day.”
‘Putin’s war has failed’
Yet, for all the high topics, Biden’s speech offered few details about how to solve this problem. Foreign policy issues Trump or Harris will have to deal with this. He warned against a “full-scale war” in Lebanon but did not explain how to avoid it, as at least 558 people were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Biden’s prized goal of a ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas appears further away than ever.
On Ukraine, Biden firmly stated that “Putin’s war” in Ukraine has failed and warned that Kiev’s allies “cannot remain complacent” in their support. He is due to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – who was in the hall of the UN to watch Biden’s speech – for talks at the White House on Thursday.
In contrast, Trump said at a rally on Tuesday that America was “caught in that war” And as president, he would “get out.”
After his speech, Biden met with a number of world leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with whom he hosted an anti-drug event. Biden then concluded the day with a fresh jab at Trump in a speech on U.S. climate policy, in which he said the Republican had “pushed the world backwards” while in office.
“And by the way, windmills don’t cause cancer,” Biden said with a smile, as he mocked Republicans’ opposition to wind energy.