Biden explains why he quit – and reveals plan for final months of his presidency
In his address to the American people last night, Joe Biden revealed his reasons for exiting the presidential race, saying he had decided to forgo personal ambition to save democracy. He also set out his aims for the final six months of his job as president.
Thursday 25 July 2024 11:03, UK
https://news.sky.com/iframe/widget/video/6638466Watch Joe Biden’s 11-minute speech in full
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3m ago11:23
A brief timeline of Biden’s life and career
After five decades in politics, President Joe Biden’s political career is coming to a close as he exits the 2024 presidential race.
Here, we take a quick look at his life through the years…
1972: US senator
Mr Biden became one of the youngest senators in US history when he defeated Senator J. Caleb Boggs at the age of 29.
Shortly after being elected to the Senate, his wife Neilia and their one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident.
1973: Sworn in as senator
The US leader was sworn in as senator at his sons’ hospital bedsides in Wilmington. Beau and Hunter were injured in the car accident that killed their mother and sister.
Mr Biden would commute from Wilmington to Washington every day.
He was senator from Delaware for 36 years and played a leading role addressing important domestic and international challenges, including writing the Violence Against Women Act.
He also played a significant role in passing the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986.
1977: Marries Jill Biden
Mr Biden married Jill Jacobs in 1977 and in 1980 they welcomed the birth of their daughter Ashley.
Joe and Jill Biden in 1987AP
1988: Runs for Democratic presidential nomination
The president ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and later in 2008 but did not win either.
2008: Vice presidency
Barack Obama chose Mr Biden as his running mate and he went on to become the 47th vice president of the US in 2009.
During his vice presidency, Mr Biden was tasked with helping rebuild the economy after the financial crisis and helped secure the Senate’s approval of the New START nuclear arms control treaty with Russia.
He also helped Mr Obama enact the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare).
Reuters
2020: Presidency
Mr Biden ran for the White House and was sworn in as the 46th president on 20 January 2021.
Almost immediately after taking office, he signed two executive orders to reinstate the Affordable Care Act.
He described it as “undoing the damage Trump had done” after Trump made failed attempts to repeal Obamacare.
He also presided over the American Rescue Plan, which spent $1.9tn (£1.5tn) on supporting US families and businesses during the pandemic.
And then in 2021, he decided to withdraw the final US troops from Afghanistan.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US has given more than $70bn (£54bn) in aid to Ukraine under Biden’s leadership.
This is nearly three times the amount of its next-biggest backer, Germany on $14bn (£12bn).
Mr Biden afer he is sworn in as presidentAP
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41m ago10:44
