Biden mumbles as he reveals why he decided to 'pass the torch' and insists he could have served four more years as president in address to nation

President Joe Biden mumbled his measurement done his reasons for exiting nan 2024 run while making nan statement he could service different 4 years if he chose.

He said he chose to 'pass nan torch' to Vice President Kamala Harris because he believed it would portion nan state and prevention democracy.

'I judge my grounds arsenic president, my activity successful nan world, my imagination for America's early each merited a 2nd term,' he said successful a primetime reside from nan Oval Office.

'But nothing, nothing, tin travel successful nan measurement of redeeming our populist that includes individual ambition truthful I decided nan champion measurement guardant is nan walk nan torch to a caller generation.'

He said he revered nan agency but loves his state more.

'I revere this agency but I emotion my state more,' nan president said.

'It's been nan grant of my life to service arsenic your president but nan defense of democracy, which is astatine stake, I deliberation is much important than a title.'

Biden's determination to measurement down sent daze waves done retired nan governmental world.

He endorsed Harris to beryllium his nominee and turned complete his run infrastructure to her.  The run renamed itself 'Harris for President.'

Within 30 hours Harris had pledges from capable delegates to triumph nan statesmanlike nomination.

Delegates will nominate their summons virtually betewen August 1-7 up of nan Democratic National Convention, which kicks disconnected August 19th successful Chicago. 

The president returned to nan White House connected Tuesday aft spending six days isolating successful his Rehoboth Beach house, wherever he was suffering from COVID.

He has canceled a West Coast fundraising plaything scheduled for nan extremity of nan week.

He will meet pinch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu astatine nan White House connected Thursday. 

Meanwhile, White House property caput Karine Jean-Pierre connected Wednesday denied location was a 'coverup' of Biden's declining wellness and intelligence capabilities.

Biden's apical spokesperson was grilled many times astir Biden's evident alteration of bosom erstwhile it came to a 2nd word and denied his wellness had thing to do pinch nan decision.

During her property briefing - nan first since Biden's historical determination to measurement down arsenic nan Democratic nominee - Fox News' Peter Doocy asked her: 'It would look that group successful this White House knew that President Biden was slipping and it was hidden from nan American group - truthful who ordered White House officials to coverup a declining president?'

'There's been nary coverup,' she replied.

For weeks Jean-Pierre and different aides denied Biden was considering leaving nan statesmanlike race. For months, they denied reports his wellness was connected nan decline. But, connected nan June 26th statesmanlike debate, Biden many times fumbled for words and froze connected camera, starring to questions from his ain statement astir his expertise to service a secod word successful nan White House. On Sunday, Biden announced he was stepping down arsenic nan party's nominee.

She said nan president made his determination in  'very short play of time.'

Jean-Pierre pushed backmost against reports that aides, lawmakers and Democratic officials had noticed for months that Biden was connected nan decline. 

She besides said his wellness was not a facet successful his determination to exit nan statesmanlike race.

'It has thing to do pinch his health,' she said. 'I tin say, no, that's not nan reason.'

She besides called calls for nan president to resign from agency 'ridiculous.' 

There person been questions arsenic to why, if Biden can't service 4 much years, he tin service six much months. 

Jean-Pierre based on that Biden was tin of serving retired a afloat 2nd term. 

'He didn't measurement down from from campaigning aliases from moving because he didn't judge he tin service successful a 2nd term. That is not why,' she said.