President Biden is set to address the nation on Wednesday after deciding to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Biden is expected to tell the American people why he decided to withdraw from the race and what he plans to focus on in the remaining six months of his first term. The White House said the speech will be delivered from the Oval Office.
The president is expected to return to the nation’s capital from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Tuesday, making his first public appearance in six days.
Biden has not been seen in public since it was reported he tested positive for COVID-19 last week, and his only public comments about his surprising decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race were during a brief call on Monday to the campaign headquarters of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic front-runner.
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President Joe Biden descends the steps of Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Wednesday, July 17, 2024. This was Biden’s last public appearance before going into COVID quarantine. (Susan Walsh/The Associated Press)
According to the president’s official schedule, Biden will leave Delaware at 12:30 p.m., then fly from Dover Air Force Base to Andrews Air Force Base, returning to the White House at about 2:30 p.m. The president will have his daily briefing at 3 p.m. He has no official events on his schedule.
In the letter released Sunday, Biden said he believes it is “in the best interest of our party and our country for me to step down and focus on fulfilling the duties of my presidency for the remainder of my term.”
“I will speak to the public in more detail about my decision later this week,” he added, without giving details about when, where or how he would speak.
Last week, Biden Started self-isolation He reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 and was last seen in public on July 17, disembarking from a plane in Delaware.
In a renewal letter Biden, 81, On Friday, regarding President Biden’s health, the president’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, wrote, “President Biden completed his sixth dose of Paxlovid this morning.”
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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at an event with NCAA college athletes on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, July 22, 2024. This marks her first appearance since Biden endorsed Harris as the next Democratic presidential candidate. (Demetrius Freeman/Getty Images)
“Mr. Biden continues to experience a mild cough and hoarseness in his voice, but his condition continues to improve steadily,” O’Connor wrote in the letter released by the White House.
“Pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature are completely normal,” the doctor said. “Oxygen saturation on room air remains excellent. Lungs are also clear.”
Doctors said Biden was infected with the KP.2.3 variant, which accounts for about 33.3% of new infections in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The President continues to tolerate his treatment well and will continue to receive Paxlobidi as planned,” the letter said. “He continues to perform all duties of his term as President.”
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Biden at the White House on Thursday. (Fox News/Getty Images)
Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday, U.S. officials said. Netanyahu arrived in the United States just over 24 hours after Biden announced he would not seek reelection.
Netanyahu is scheduled to speak to parliament on Wednesday, but Harris has declined to emcee the speech, according to The Washington Post. Before leaving Israel for Washington, Netanyahu told reporters that Israel would stand by the United States “no matter what.” [of] This is the person the American people will choose as their next president.”
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“In times of war and uncertainty, it is important that Israel’s enemies know that America and Israel stand together,” the leader said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also requested a meeting With former President Trump Politico reported that President Trump is expected to agree to the meeting this week. It is unclear whether President Trump has agreed to the meeting.
Fox News Digital’s Daniel Wallace and Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.
