First speech by Biden since ending campaign

On July 24, just one week after testing positive for COVID-19, President Joe Biden made his first public appearance since announcing his candidacy from the Oval Office.

“Tomorrow evening at 8 PM ET, I will address the nation from the Oval Office on what lies ahead and how I will finish the job for the American people,” he said in a post on X.

Tomorrow evening at 8 PM ET, I will address the nation from the Oval Office on what lies ahead, and how I will finish the job for the American people.

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 23, 2024

The speech before a confused nation comes on the heels of rampant rumors that ranged from a party coup on the president to the idea that the president is actually dead and it was being kept a secret.

The Last Appearance

The president has been conspicuously absent from the public eye since July 17, when he tested positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas.

Since then, iden has retreated to his residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and has canceled his remaining engagements.

On Sunday, he shocked the nation by withdrawing from the presidential campaign in a letter that was sent to X. Subsequently, he issued a second statement in which he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor on the Democratic ticket.

pic.twitter.com/RMIRvlSOYw

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

Harris's Moves

Harris drove to Wilmington, Delaware, on Monday in order to rally her campaign workers and officially accept President Biden's endorsement.

While she was there, Biden called into the meeting to urge unity among his party.

“I’m hoping you’ll give every bit of your heart and soul that you gave to me to Kamala,” he said, stressing that “the name has changed the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all.”

Upon his Tuesday return to the White House, President Biden spoke with reporters as he stepped out of Air Force One.

When asked by reporters what his message would be be during his speech on Wednesday night, Biden said simply, “Watch and listen. Why don’t you wait and hear what I say?”