Biden will address nation from Oval Office on decision to exit 2024 race

President Joe Biden will address the nation on Wednesday following his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election. Biden plans to speak to Americans from the Oval Office about his reasons for exiting the race and his agenda for the final six months of his term. The president's public appearance on Tuesday at Dover Air Force Base marked the end of his six-day absence as he returned to Washington, D.C., from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. During his brief interaction with reporters, Biden assured them that he was "feeling well" after recovering from COVID-19.

Biden's only public statement regarding his unexpected withdrawal from the presidential race came during a phone call to Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign headquarters on Monday. Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee. After returning to the White House, Biden will receive his daily briefing at 3 p.m., with no other public events scheduled for the day.

In a letter released on Sunday, Biden explained that stepping down was in the best interest of his party and the country, allowing him to focus solely on his presidential duties. He promised a more detailed address to the nation later in the week, without specifying the exact time or format. Last week, Biden began self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19, with his last public appearance being on July 17 when he deplaned in Delaware.

According to Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the president's physician, Biden's symptoms have resolved, and he never experienced a fever or any abnormal vital signs during his infection. His lungs remained clear throughout. On Thursday, Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, as confirmed by a U.S. official. Netanyahu arrived in the U.S. shortly after Biden's announcement, and he will address Congress on Wednesday.

Vice President Harris, however, declined to preside over Netanyahu's address, as reported by the Washington Post. Netanyahu assured reporters before his departure from Israel that his country would stand with the U.S. regardless of the outcome of the upcoming election. He emphasized the importance of a strong U.S.-Israel alliance during this uncertain and tumultuous period. Netanyahu also requested a meeting with former President Trump, as reported by Politico, though it is unclear if Trump agreed to the arrangement.

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