Peace in Israel, cure for cancer: What Joe Biden’s last months in office may look like?

On Sunday, Joe Biden stunned the world and shook up American politics when he announced that he was dropping out of the presidential election and endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris for the job.

And on Wednesday, the US president sat in the Oval Office and delivered what could be considered as, perhaps, the most sombre and reflective speech, reflecting on his decision to quit the race —an act that may one day be the defining moment of his political career.

Sitting at the Resolute Desk, where many American presidents before him had addressed the nation in times of crisis and decision, Biden prioritised the defence of democracy over his ambition. “I revere this office but I love my country more,” he said. “It’s been the honour of my life to serve as your president. But in defence of democracy, which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title.”

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Now, that he has stepped away from the race, the question arises: What does Joe Biden plan to do in the months that he remains president?

Why did Biden drop out?

Biden’s speech from the Oval Office was his first public comments since passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris , who is expected to be the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. The 81-year-old president gave the American public an insight into his decision to abandon the race, saying it is “time for a new generation of leadership in America”.

“There’s a time and a place for long years of experience in public life,” said Biden. “There’s also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.”

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In his roughly 10-minute long speech, without naming Trump, said that the “defence of democracy” was at stake and that was “more important than any title”.

He added the US was at an “inflection point” and that the upcoming months would “determine the fate of our nation and the world”. “We have to decide, do we still believe in honesty, decency, respect, freedom, justice and democracy? In this moment, we can see those we disagree with, not as enemies, but as fellow Americans. Can we do that?”

He also praised his vice president, describing Kamala Harris as “experienced,” “tough,” and “capable”.

What are his plans for the campaign trail?

Besides explaining to the American public his decision to drop out, he also made it clear that he was around to ensure the Democratic Party’s win.

Earlier, he had said: “I’m going to be on the road, and I’m not going anywhere.” He reiterated his support for Harris on Wednesday night: “She’s tough; she’s capable. She’s been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.”

Some experts believe that his support for Harris will help the American vice president at the polls. Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster, told Vox that Biden can reassert the successes of his administration as a “political wind behind the sails of the Kamala campaign,” emphasising her role in getting things done.

What about the rest of Biden’s term in office?

The American president also used the Oval Office address to defend his record, define his legacy and describe his vision for the rest of his term. As the Washington Post reports, Biden sought to show Americans that he still plans to make an impact during his final months in office.

The 81-year-old said that he will spend the rest of his term “focused on doing my job as president”, an apparent jibe at the many Republicans who called on him to resign following his decision to drop out of the race.

It is said that Biden now hopes to ramp up his presidential activity — he has until January to get the job.

In his speech, he laid out his priorities for the final months of his presidency, mostly focusing on foreign policy. He said he would seek to “bring peace and security to the Middle East” and keep rallying a coalition of nations to stop the Russian takeover of Ukraine, bolstering NATO and US allies in the Pacific.

His government has been aggressively pushing for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would result in the release of hostages held by the group since last October. Efforts to secure such a deal have intensified in recent days, coinciding with Wednesday’s visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On the domestic end, Biden said that over the next six months, he will focus on “lowering costs”, growing the economy, and fighting against gun violence and the climate crisis.

The US president also stated that he would be pushing for a supreme court reform, calling it “critical to our democracy”. Biden has been considering proposals to establish term limits for Supreme Court justices and an enforceable ethics code for those on the high court.

This is a reversal for Biden who has long resisted calls to reform the high court. But the move comes as there’s a growing outrage among Democrats about court decisions on abortion rights and more. There have also been increasing questions surrounding the ethics of the court after revelations about some of the justices, including that Clarence Thomas had accepted luxury trips from a Republican megadonor.

He also said that he will “keep fighting for my cancer moonshot”, referring to his efforts to find a cure for cancer that began years before his presidency. In 2019, he told Americans he would “cure cancer” if elected. He has about six months left to keep that promise.

He ended his speech on a personal note: It’s been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years. Nowhere else on earth could a kid with a stutter — from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware — one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as President of the United States. But here I am.”

As Vox reported, Biden’s last months in office has the potential to lay the groundwork for a smooth transition to another Democratic administration that could protect the policies he set in motion.

With inputs from agencies