President Joe Biden is set to address the nation on Wednesday after his surprising decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential election. The address, which will be delivered from the Oval Office, will focus on his reasons for exiting the race and outline his plans for the remaining six months of his first term, according to a White House announcement.
Biden is expected to make his first public appearance in six days on Tuesday, as he returns to Washington, D.C. from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
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This comes after he reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 last week, resulting in his absence from public view. His only public remarks regarding his decision to withdraw were made on Monday during a brief phone call to the campaign headquarters of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now the presumptive Democratic nominee.
According to his public schedule, President Biden will depart Delaware at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, flying from Dover Air Force Base to Joint Base Andrews, with an expected arrival at the White House around 2:30 p.m. He will receive his daily briefing at 3 p.m., but no public events are planned for the day.
In a letter released on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Biden stated that he believes stepping down is in the “best interest of my party and the country,” allowing him to focus solely on his presidential duties for the remainder of his term. He promised to provide more details about his decision during his upcoming address.
Biden’s recent COVID-19 diagnosis has kept him in self-isolation since last week. He was last seen publicly deplaning in Delaware on July 17. On Friday, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician, reported that Biden had completed his sixth dose of PAXLOVID and that his symptoms were steadily improving.
Dr. O’Connor noted that Biden is still experiencing a loose cough and hoarseness, but his vital signs remain normal, and his oxygen levels are excellent.
Biden is confirmed to have the KP.2.3 variant of COVID-19, which accounts for about 33.3% of new infections in the U.S., according to the CDC. The president continues to tolerate treatment well and is performing all his presidential duties, Dr. O’Connor stated.
Looking ahead, Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday. Netanyahu arrived in the U.S. shortly after Biden’s announcement that he would not seek re-election. Netanyahu is also set to address Congress on Wednesday, though Vice President Harris reportedly declined to preside over the session.
Before departing Israel, Netanyahu reaffirmed his country’s strong alliance with the U.S., regardless of the upcoming presidential election outcome. “In this time of war and uncertainty, it’s important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu has also requested a meeting with former President Donald Trump this week, according to Politico, though it remains unclear if Trump has agreed to the meeting.