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JOE Biden’s halting and bumbling delivery of his last address to the American people went some way in justifying why he needed to end his presidential campaign, a political expert has told The U.S. Sun.
The outgoing president, 82, rambled during moments of his final address and had battles reading the teleprompter.
When reading a phrase from President Dwight Eisenhower’s speech, Biden said, “End of quote” – a moment that did not go unnoticed by viewers.
In the 17-minute address, Biden referred to what he believed were the achievements of his term, notably the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal and job creation following the pandemic.
Notably, he didn’t refer to Donald Trump by name, albeit wished the new administration well.
That was before he paid tribute to Vice President Kamala Harris and his doting wife, Dr. Jill Biden.
But viewers said parts of Biden’s speech sounded confusing, and he appeared to slur in some parts.
David Richards, a political expert at the University of Lynchburg in Virginia, noted how Biden wasn’t always fluid.
“This was the kind of speech Biden should’ve made more often,” he said.
“But the speech also highlighted why he was wise to step down from the campaign – even if he felt he might’ve been able to win the campaign.
“His delivery was often halting, and he stumbled over his words.
“It makes it more difficult to believe in him as a strong and forceful leader.”
Richards explained how the speech didn’t contain anything unexpected.
“His speech was in line with what we were expecting at this point,” he added.
“Nothing startling. Nothing terribly interesting, but also nothing very embarrassing.”
Biden didn’t mention any pardons he may dish out in his final days.
Speculation suggesting Biden may hand out pardons to Trump critics, including Liz Cheney, has been rife.
Biden shamelessly pardoned his son, Hunter Biden – despite saying for months that he wouldn’t.
The commander-in-chief was widely criticized after Wednesday’s speech aired on television.
He was also spotted sitting on a pillow and received a barrage of criticism online.
Some said sitting on a pillow marked the final humiliation of his presidency.
Biden’s term in office has been littered with gaffes and blunders.
Biden’s letter to the nation
Hours before delivering his farewell address, Biden penned a letter to the nation.
“Four years ago, we stood in a winter of peril and a winter of possibilities,” his letter started.
“We were in the grip of the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. But we came together as Americans, and we braved through it.
“We emerged stronger, more prosperous, and more secure.
“Today, we have the strongest economy in the world and have created a record 16.6 million new jobs.
“Wages are up. Inflation continues to come down. The racial wealth gap is the lowest it’s been in 20 years.
“We’re rebuilding our entire nation—urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal communities. Manufacturing is coming back to America. We’re leading the world again in science and innovation, including the semiconductor industry.
“And we finally beat Big Pharma to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors.
“More people have health insurance today in America than ever before. I signed one of the most significant laws helping millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic materials and their families, as well as the most significant climate law ever and the first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years. Today, the violent crime rate is at a 50-year low.
“I ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake.
“The very nature of who we are was at stake. And, that’s still the case. America is an idea stronger than any army and larger than any ocean. It’s the most powerful idea in the history of the world.
“That idea is that we are all created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
“We’ve never fully lived up to this sacred idea, but we’ve never walked away from it either. And I do not believe the American people will walk away from it now.
“It has 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.
“I have given my heart and my soul to our nation. And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people.
“History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands. We just have to keep the faith and remember who we are.
“We are the United States of America, and there is simply nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.”
His poor performance against Trump in the presidential debate in June magnified fears within the Democratic establishment that he couldn’t defeat the tycoon.
Biden eventually pulled out of the presidential race in July following relentless pressure.
The rift within the Democratic Party still seems to be there as Jill Biden said she was left “disappointed” that Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, was among those to push Biden out of the race.
“We were friends for 50 years,” Dr. Biden told the Washington Post.
“It was disappointing.”
Harris had just over three months to get her campaign off the ground in what proved an unsuccessful effort against Trump.
Days before Biden’s exit from the race, he accidentally referred to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as Putin.
And, he confused his words referring to Harris as vice president Trump.
GAFFE PRONE TERM
Biden is the oldest living US president, and questions about his age and competence have never gone away.
Just months after being sworn into office, he tripped up the stairs of Air Force One three times.
And he suffered a heavy fall at a US Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in June 2023.
Biden had to be helped to his feet following the tumble before later claiming he had got sandbagged.
The commander-in-chief also sparked concern when he seemed to freeze at a White House concert commemorating Juneteenth.
Pictures showed him looking blank while revelers around him were enjoying the music.
Biden has also made odd remarks, claiming his uncle was eaten by cannibals during World War Two.
And, on the international stage, he said he had been meeting with politicians, who turned out to be dead.
In February, he confused Emmanuel Macron with Francois Mitterrand.
Mitterrand served as French president between 1981 and 1995 and died in 1996.
And Biden also confused Angela Merkel with the late German chancellor Helmut Kohl.
