President Joe Biden will conclude his presidency with a series of significant addresses this week. His final foreign policy address, delivered Monday, will be followed by a farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Biden's final address to the nation, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 15, will reflect on his 50-plus-year career in national politics. This includes his improbable 1972 Senate victory, three decades in the Senate, the vice presidency under Barack Obama, and ultimately the presidency.
Ahead of the farewell address, Biden will deliver a speech at the State Department on Monday, focusing on his administration's foreign policy achievements. A senior administration official characterized the global landscape as challenging when Biden took office, highlighting damage to US alliances and the rise of adversaries.
Biden will outline his administration's efforts to restore American global leadership and strengthen alliances, such as NATO, now comprising 32 members. The speech will also address the administration's response to global crises and international relations, including the support for Israel.
The official noted the administration's goal to showcase how the US reclaimed its global leadership, addressed global turbulence, and strengthened the nation. While the address will emphasize positive developments, it's unclear if the withdrawal from Afghanistan, a controversial and often criticized event, will be a significant topic. This decision ended America's longest war.
The farewell address will culminate a week of events marking Biden's final days in office, culminating in the peaceful transfer of power ceremony at Trump's second inauguration on January 20th. The initial plan for a final overseas trip was canceled to allow Biden to focus on wildfires in Southern California.
