President Joe Biden delivered a forthright deal with to the nation on Wednesday evening, the place he defined that it’s time to move the torch to a brand new era following his announcement on Sunday that he’s suspending his marketing campaign for a second time period and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to steer the Democratic ticket.

Biden opened by invoking the nation’s founding fathers to the touch on his respect for the presidency and the nation. Nonetheless, he mentioned, democracy is at stake on this election cycle, and referenced the preamble to the U.S. Structure in saying that making a extra excellent union lies with the folks, not its chief, and that the November election will decide the course of the nation for many years to return.

“In current weeks, it’s grow to be clear to me, I have to unite my social gathering on this vital endeavor,” Biden mentioned. “I consider my report as President, my management on this planet, my imaginative and prescient for America’s future, all advantage a second time period, however nothing — nothing — can are available in the best way of saving our democracy. That features private ambition. So I’ve determined one of the best ways ahead is to move the torch to a brand new era. That’s one of the best ways to unite our nation.

“You understand, there’s a time and a spot for lengthy years of expertise in public life. There’s additionally a time and a spot for brand spanking new voices, recent voices, sure, youthful voices. And that point and place is now,” he added.

Assist for Biden because the candidate atop the Democratic ticket started to plummet following his efficiency within the June 27 presidential debate. Dealing with off in opposition to Donald Trump, the president stumbled and trailed off a number of instances whereas answering questions. This led many within the social gathering and throughout the nation to query his means to steer the social gathering and the nation, a notion he spent the final month refuting whereas steadfastly saying he’d stay within the race. That ended on Sunday with an announcement that he has determined to exit the race and Oval Workplace after one time period.

Over the following six months, as he closes out his one-term presidency, Biden mentioned he’ll work on a number of points that the nation has been dealing with over the previous 4 years: combatting inflation, preventing for civil liberties and the best to decide on and combatting extremism. He additionally talked about that he will probably be taking motion on the nation’s highest court docket.

“I’m going to name for Supreme Court docket reform, as a result of that is vital to our democracy… I’ll maintain working to make sure America stays robust, safe and the chief of the free world,” he mentioned.

Towards the tip of his deal with, BIden talked about Voce President Harris, the presumptive nominee for the presidency now the he has dropped out and endorsed her.

“She’s skilled, she’s powerful, she’s succesful. She’s been an unimaginable accomplice to me and the chief for our nation. Now the selection is as much as you, the American folks,” he mentioned.

Harris spoke on Wedensday on the biennial conference of Zeta Phi Beta, the predominantly Black sorority that’s a part of the Nationwide Pan-Hellenic Council — know because the Divine 9.

Biden signed off by telling the American public that the facility to maintain democracy is of their arms.

“The wonderful thing about America is right here, kings and dictators don’t rule. The folks do,” he mentioned. “Historical past is in your arms. The facility is in your arms. The concept of America lies in your arms. We simply must maintain religion. Maintain the religion, and keep in mind who we’re. We’re america of America, and there’s merely nothing, nothing past our capability. We do it collectively. So let’s act collectively and protect our democracy.