Quick Hit:

President Biden will address the nation Wednesday at 8 p.m. from the Oval Office to discuss his decision to abandon his campaign for a second term due to questions about his mental acuity.

Key Details:

• Biden, 81, has not been seen in public since last Wednesday due to recovering from COVID-19.
• Vice President Kamala Harris has been endorsed by Biden to lead the Democratic ticket in the upcoming election.
• Biden has canceled nine trips scheduled for the next two weeks, including stops in California, Denver, Houston, and Austin.

Diving Deeper:

President Joe Biden will address the nation from the Oval Office at 8 p.m. Wednesday to discuss his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. This decision comes amid growing concerns about his mental acuity. Biden, 81, tweeted Tuesday about his upcoming address: “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.”

Since his COVID-19 diagnosis, Biden has been recuperating at his Delaware vacation home and is expected to return to the White House by Tuesday afternoon. The President has committed to serving the remainder of his term, which concludes in January, despite increasing pressure from prominent Republicans, such as House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, to resign.

On Sunday evening, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor for the Democratic ticket in the upcoming November election. His decision followed widespread calls from within his party to step down after a series of confusing statements, including his claim that he “finally beat Medicare” during a debate against former President Donald Trump in June.

Despite initial resistance, Biden decided to step down just days before the Democratic delegates were set to virtually nominate him. On Monday, Biden reassured campaign workers, stating, “The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all.” He added, “And by the way, I’m not going anywhere. I’m gonna be out there on the campaign with her, with Kamala. I’m going to be working like hell, both as a sitting president, getting legislation passed, as well as in campaigning,” despite speaking with a slurred, raspy voice.

Following his announcement, Biden canceled nine trips scheduled over the next two weeks, including visits to California, Denver, Houston, and Austin, according to a White House source. The President had been isolating with COVID-19 and was supposed to leave his Rehoboth, Delaware home on Monday, but extended his stay until Wednesday. The White House has not provided a specific reason for the cancellations.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire revealed that Biden was set to visit Houston on Thursday to discuss Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts, but the trip was canceled last minute. Additionally, Biden was tentatively expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, but there are no plans for him to return to Washington, D.C., for this meeting.

The decision to cancel these trips appears to align with Biden’s announcement to end his campaign, rather than being related to his recent illness. Presidential physician Kevin O’Connor confirmed Monday that Biden had nearly recovered from COVID-19.

Biden’s decision marks a significant turning point in the 2024 presidential race, with Vice President Kamala Harris now at the forefront of the Democratic campaign. The upcoming address will likely provide further insight into Biden's plans for the remainder of his term and the future direction of his administration.