Joe Biden speech LIVE updates: US president says ‘soul of America at stake’ in address to nation after stepping down as presidential nominee

That’s all for today on our live coverage of US President Joe Biden’s address from the Oval Office.

North America correspondent Farrah Tomazin has written her analysis, saying Biden’s speech was one he never wanted to give but did it with passion and grace.

Read the full analysis here.

In addition, here’s a quick recap of what happened today:

• Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke earlier at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, describing Kamala Harris as “lyin’ Kamala” and “an ultra-liberal”.
• Biden’s Oval Office address touched on needing to “pass the torch to a new generation”, saying Americans have a choice between hope and hate.
• The soul of America was at stake, Biden said, but America was “more powerful than any dictator or tyrant”.
• Biden concluded his speech saying “kings and dictators do not rule – the people do”.
• Trump was photographed by New York Times photographer Doug Mills watching Biden’s address from his plane following the rally in Charlotte.

President Joe Biden addressing Americans from the White House’s Oval Office.Credit: AP

First lady Jill Biden has thanked those who always believed in US President Joe Biden, saying now is the time to put trust in Vice President Kamala Harris.

“To those who never wavered, to those who refused to doubt, to those who always believed, my heart is full of gratitude,” she posted to X.

“Thank you for the trust you put in Joe – now it’s time to put that trust in Kamala.”

As President Joe Biden spoke, his staff cheered.

Once the speech concluded, Biden went to the Rose Garden to thank his waiting staff.

In turn, they thanked him.

Some photos from inside, from White House deputy communications director Herbie Ziskend.

New York Times photographer Doug Mills posted to X an image of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump watching US President Joe Biden’s address from his plane, after speaking at a rally in Charlotte.

US President Joe Biden’s decision against running for president again upended a race that was already reeling after the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.

The gunman in the attempted assassination is believed to have done a Google search one week before the shooting of “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”

FBI Director Christopher Wray said this on Wednesday, revealing new details about a suspect he said had taken a keen interest in public figures but had otherwise not left behind clear clues of an ideological motive.

The July 6 online search, recovered from a laptop tied to 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, is a reference to Lee Harvey Oswald, the shooter who killed president John F. Kennedy from a sniper’s perch in Dallas on November 22, 1963.

“That is a search that is significant in terms of his state of mind. That is the same day that it appears he registered” for the Trump rally scheduled for July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.

Crooks was killed by a Secret Service countersniper.

The investigation has thrust the bureau into a political maelstrom months before the presidential election, with lawmakers and the public pressing for details about what may have motivated Crooks in the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

Full story here.

Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to shoot Donald Trump.Credit: AP

AP

Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries has posted to X saying he pledges to save US democracy.

Posting after Joe Biden’s address from the Oval Office, Jeffries said the president had “passed the torch to all of us”.

“It is now our responsibility to save American democracy,” he posted.

“We will.”

US President Joe Biden has finished his address by saying “kings and dictators do not rule – the people do”, telling the American people history is in their hands.

Vice President Kamala Harris has also been applauded during Biden’s address from the Oval Office, as the president says she is the right choice for the American people.

“She is experienced, she is tough, she is capable, she’s been an incredible partner to me and leader for our country,” he said.

“Now the choice is up to you, the American people. You make that choice.

“My fellow Americans, it’s been a privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years.

“I give my heart and my soul for our nation. Like so many others. And I’m blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people.

“I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you. 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.”

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in February last year.Credit: AP

President Joe Biden has used his address to reflect on his achievements during his time in office, saying he will keep working for the next six months until a new president is sworn in.

Some of the areas of policy achievement Biden cited include tackling inflation, creating nearly 16 million new jobs, and securing the border.

“I also kept my commitment to having an administration that looks like America and be a president for all Americans,” he said.

“That’s what I’ve done. When I ran for president four years ago … I believed that the soul of America was at stake, the very nature of who we are is 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.”

US President Joe Biden. Credit: Nine

US President Joe Biden says it has been the honour of his life to serve as president, that he is choosing democracy over his title, and that it is time to pass the torch to a younger generation.

“I revere this office. I love my country more. It has been the honour of my life to serve as your president, but in the democracy that is at stake I think it is more important than any title,” he said.

US President Joe Biden addresses the nation for the first time since withdrawing from the race to be the Democratic party’s nominee.Credit: Nine News

“I draw strength and find joy in working for the American people, but this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It is about you. Your families. Your futures. It is about we the people.

“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 fellow Americans. Can we do that? Does character in public life still matter? I believe you know the answer to these questions.”

Biden went on to say he believes his record as president merited a second term, but nothing can come in the way of saving democracy – including “personal ambition”.

“I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. It is the best way to unite our nation. You know there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life,” he said.

“But there is also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices; yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.”

US President Joe Biden spoke from the Oval Office earlier – his first time addressing the nation since announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election race. Watch it back below: