Official transcript and recordings of Joe Biden's farewell address

Biden to Deliver Farewell Address from Oval Office at 8 p.m. ET as Trump Prepares to Take Office

Jan 15, 2025, 11:24 AM

President Joe Biden, at 82 years old and after 53 years in public office, is set to deliver his farewell address from the Oval Office on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET, marking the end of his presidency as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump. Biden's speech will be his last as he exits politics after a decades-long career. In a letter released ahead of his address, Biden reflected on his administration's start amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He emphasized the ongoing importance of the soul of America, a central theme of his 2020 campaign. Biden has been focusing on cementing his legacy in his final weeks, highlighting achievements such as job growth, support for Ukraine, and key legislation like the American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS Act. Despite these accomplishments, his term was marked by economic challenges including high inflation and interest rates, which impacted his and Vice President Kamala Harris's reelection efforts. Biden, who decided to drop out of the 2024 race in July and endorsed Kamala Harris, expressed confidence in his potential to defeat Trump but stepped aside to unify the Democratic Party.