US President Joe Biden uses Oval Office address to explain his decision to drop out of the presidential race

US President Joe Biden has spoken from the Oval Office in the White House, addressing his decision to not run for re-election.

“My fellow Americans, I’m speaking to you tonight from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, in this sacred space,” Mr Biden said.

“I’m surrounded by portraits of extraordinary American presidents.

“Thomas Jefferson wrote the immortal words that guide this nation. George Washington, who showed us presidents are not kings. Abraham Lincoln, who implored us to reject malice. Franklin Roosevelt, who inspired us to reject fear.

“I revere this office, but I love my country more. It’s been the honour of my life to serve as your president. But in the defence of democracy which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title.

“I draw strength and I find joy in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me.

“It’s about you. Your families, your futures.

“I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, and my vision for America’s future all merited a second term.

“But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy.

“That includes personal ambition. So I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.

“You know, there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, but there’s also a time and a place for new voices.

“Fresh voices. That time and place is now.”

America at a crossroads

“I’ve made it clear that I believe America is at an inflection point,” Mr Biden said.

“One of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine the fate of our nation and the world for decades to come.

“America is going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division. We have to decide do we still believe in honesty, decency, respect, freedom, justice and democracy in this moment, we can see those we disagree with, not as enemies, but as as fellow Americans.”

The next six months

The President said he would not be shying away from the hard work over the next six months.

“I’ll be focused on doing my job as president,” Mr Biden said.

“That means I’ll continue to lower costs for hardworking families. Grow our economy. I’ll keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights, from the right to vote to the right to choose.

“I’ll keep calling out hate and extremism. Make it clear there is no place, no place in America for political violence or any violence that ever period.

“I’m going to keep speaking out to protect our kids from gun violence, our planet from climate crisis that is the existential threat.

“I will keep fighting for my Cancer Moonshot so we can end cancer as we know it, because we can do it.

“I’m going to call for a Supreme Court reform because this is critical to our democracy.

“I will keep working to ensure America remains strong and secure. And the leader of the free world.”

‘So far since my inauguration’

Mr Biden reflected on his term so far as President of the United States.

“You know, we’ve come so far since my inauguration,” Mr Biden said.

“We were in the grip of the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.

“But we came together as Americans and we got through it.

“We emerged stronger, more prosperous, and more secure.

Today, we have the strongest economy in the world, creating nearly 16 million new jobs.

Mr Biden went on to boast about wages being up, inflation going down, the racial wealth gap lowering, rebuilding the nation’s communities, bringing manufacturing back to America and leading the world in chip and science innovation.

“We finally beat Big Pharma after all these years to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. And I’m going to keep fighting to make sure we lower the cost for everyone, not just seniors, “ Mr Biden said.

“More people have health care today in America than ever before.

Mr Biden highlighted his work in changing laws to help millions of veterans, protect the climate and enforce gun safety.

‘America is an idea’

The president shared his concern for the future of America, imploring citizens to make their choice.

“I ran for president four years ago because I believed and still do, that the soul of America was at stake,” Mr Biden said.

“The very nature of who we are was at stake. And that’s still the case.

“America is an idea. An idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant.

“It’s the most powerful idea in the history of the world.

“Now in just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America’s future.

“I made my choice. I made my views known. I would like to thank our great Vice President Kamala Harris.

She experienced. She’s tough, she’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.

“Now the choice is up to you the American people.

“Whether we keep our republic is now in your hands.”

A heartfelt thank you

President Joe Biden concluded his Oval Office address with a heartfelt message, thanking the American people.

“My fellow Americans has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years.

“Nowhere else on earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the resolute Desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States.

“But here I am.

“That’s what’s so special about America. We are a nation of promise and possibilities of dreamers and doers, of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.

“The great thing about America is here Kings and dictators do not rule. The people do.

“History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands.

“You just have to keep the faith and remember who we are.

“We’re the United States of America, and there’s simply nothing, nothing beyond our capacity.

“God bless you all and may God protect our troops. Thank you.”

It was Mr Biden’s first public address since his announcement via social media on Sunday that he had ended his bid for a second term and was endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden has kept a low profile since last week when he came down with a COVID-19 infection and went into isolation at his private residence in the state of Delaware...

- With AAP