My dear compatriots,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a nation.
Today, America is the world’s largest economy. We’ve made historic investments to rebuild our nation, to lower prescription drug costs for seniors, and to expand affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided much-needed care to 1 million veterans exposed to toxic substances. We’ve passed the first gun safety law in 30 years.
We appointed the first African-American woman to the Supreme Court. And we passed the most significant climate legislation in history. America has never been better positioned to lead than it is today.
I know that none of this would have been possible without you, the American people. Together, we have weathered a once-in-a-century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We have protected and preserved our democracy. And we have revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as President. And while it was my intention to run for another term, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country that I step aside and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will address the nation in more detail this week about my decision.
At this point, let me express my deepest gratitude to everyone who worked so hard to see me re-elected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all of this work. And let me express my sincere appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I have always believed: that there is nothing the United States cannot do – when we do it together. We just have to remember that we are the United States of America.
Joe Biden