Biden's family cries and his staff weep as he insists he deserves a second term and commiserates with White House aides with ice cream

President Joe Biden's family and longtime, loyal unit cried arsenic he addressed nan federation astir his determination to exit nan 2024 campaign.

Biden was surrounded by his loved ones and those who helped make his governmental profession arsenic he said from nan Oval Office. They applauded erstwhile he vanished his 11-minute reside but they besides wiped distant tears.

First woman Jill Biden, his woman of 47 years, was nan first by his broadside aft he finished. She joined him astatine nan Resolute Desk followed by boy Hunter, who gave his dada a hug. Hunter's girl Finnegan and nan Bidens' girl Ashley besides hugged nan president pinch Finnegan wiping distant tears arsenic she turned distant from her grandfather. 

Ashley's hubby Howard Krein was besides coming arsenic were different Biden grandchildren including Naomi Biden Neal and her hubby Peter Neal, young Hunter Biden (the precocious Beau Biden's son) and Maisy Biden.

Staff successful nan room included Mike Donilon, Biden's longtime adjutant who has been location since nan commencement of his governmental career; property caput Karine Jean-Pierre, and Biden's lawman main of unit Annie Tomasini.

'This has been nan grant of a lifetime,' nan president told them.

Then nan unit joined different unit retired successful nan Rose Garden, wherever crystal pick - nan president's favourite dainty - was being served. 

'Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher' - 1 of Biden's run songs - was playing.

In his speech, Biden outlined his reasons for exiting nan 2024 campaign 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.'

'There is simply a clip and a spot for agelong years of acquisition successful nationalist life. There's besides a clip and a spot for caller voices caller voices. Yes, younger voices,' he noted. 

One point he did not reside was his ain health. Biden, 81, conscionable recovered from a bout of COVID but it was his disastrous statement capacity against Donald Trump, wherever he fumbled for words and stared blankly astatine times, that led aggregate Democrats to telephone for him to exit nan statesmanlike race. 

Biden fumbled a spot successful his delivery, mumbling astatine times and speaking softly. But he utilized nan reside to outline his legacy, to explicate his reasons for dropping retired of nan statesmanlike race, and statement he has much activity to do successful nan six months he has near successful office.

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 made it clear he stepping down voluntarily, drafting a stark opposition betwixt his predecessor. He didn't mention Donald Trump by sanction but his meaning was clear erstwhile he talked astir really nan state is much important than nan Oval Office.

Trump sought to overturn nan 2020 predetermination results and enactment successful power, later facing authorities and national charges for his actions.

'America is an thought - an thought stronger and immoderate army, bigger than immoderate ocean, much powerfulness than immoderate dictator,' Biden said. 

As nan president spoke, his unit were gathered 1 level up, connected nan authorities level of nan White House, to watch his remarks pinch vino and pizza.

Before nan reside began, staffers were spotted stepping successful from nan Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is crossed nan thoroughfare of nan West Wing, into nan White House due for nan event.  

Biden's determination to measurement down sent daze waves done retired nan governmental world and closed retired much than 50 years successful politics. 

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.

In his reside connected Wednesday night, Biden didn't explicitly endorse Harris but noted he's 'made my views known.

'I made my choice. I've made my views known. I'd for illustration to convey our awesome Vice President Kamala Harris. She's experienced. She's tough. She's capable. She's been an unthinkable partner to maine and a leader for our country.'

'Now nan prime is up to you, nan American people,' he said successful reference to nan upcoming election.

Delegates will nominate their summons virtually betwixt 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. 

He spent weeks rebuffing unit from those successful his statement to measurement down arsenic its nominee. On Sunday, he bowed to nan inevitable. 

Biden is nan first incumbent president not to activity reelection since 1968 erstwhile Lyndon Johnson, nether occurrence for his handling of nan Vietnam War, abruptly pulled retired of nan run connected March 31.

The president besides joins James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, Calvin Coolidge and Harry Truman arsenic presidents who each decided not to guidelines for a 2nd elected term.