President Joe Biden is set to deliver a prime-time farewell address on Wednesday night.
Why It Matters
Biden's farewell address will be his last big opportunity to reach millions of Americans and speak to the rest of the world about his legacy before he leaves office on January 20.
What To Know
Biden's Oval Office remarks will be televised Wednesday, January 15, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday that the president would reflect on his "50-plus years as a public official."
Biden's Years Of Public Service
Biden served as a U.S. senator from Delaware for 36 years. He had recently turned 30 years old when he took office in 1973, making him one of the youngest people to become a U.S. senator. He served in his seat until 2009 when he became the 47th U.S. vice president. He served under former President Barack Obama for two terms, and he became the 46th U.S. president in 2021 after beating then-President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
Biden was the Democrats' top pick in the 2024 election, as he was the incumbent, before a dismal debate performance against Trump last summer. Vice President Kamala Harris subsequently became the Democratic presidential nominee and only had a few months to campaign. She lost to Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, in November 2024.
Biden Says He Would Have Beaten Trump
In a recent USA Today interview, Biden was asked if he could have won the 2024 election had he remained in the race.
"It's presumptuous to say that, but I think yes, based on the polling," he said.
When asked if he would have had the physical strength to serve another four years, Biden said, "I don't know."
Biden Rated Worse Than Trump, Obama
A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only about one-quarter of Americans rated Biden as a "good" or "great" president, with less than 10 percent describing him as "great."
Comparatively, about one-third of Americans rated Trump as "good" or "great" at the end of his term. Obama, by contrast, left office with half the population rating his presidency positively.
What People Are Saying
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden "has some thoughts on the future, not just of the country, but how this country moves forward as a leader, when you think about global events, important global issues, and certainly he will lay that out."
What Happens Next
Trump will be sworn in as president five days after Biden's farewell address.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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