Joe Biden farewell speech live updates: President says 'Americans buried under avalanche of disinformation’

Biden farewell speech live updates: US President Joe Biden addressed the nation for a final speech from the Oval Office on January 16, before his term officially ends on January 20 with Donald Trump's inauguration. President Biden reflected on the four years of his term and emphasised his commitment towards being “President for all Americans”. He also spoke about the legacy of American democracy, which started as a country of immigrants and was rooted in the idea of “all people are born equal”. ...Read More
His speech also highlighted his various concerns for the upcoming four years, especially the abuse of power and concentration of wealth in the hands of people.
During his speech he warned Americans that an “oligarchy of the ultra-wealthy” was taking shape in the nation and that excessive wealth in the hands of the few was harming the American democracy.
He also spoke about the dieterioration of the free press and other democratic institutions. While he wished the Trump administration success, he pointed out the importance of maintaining a fair government in the coming days.
Key updates | Biden's farewell speech
- During his speech, he not only thanked his wife Jill Biden and his children, but also took time to thank members of his administration, service members in the military and first responders. He also thanked Kamala and Doug Harris, stating that they were like a “second family” to him.
- Biden during his final speech warned that Americans were succumbing to disinformation and stated that the free press, as an institution, was under threat.
- He also called out the tech-industrial complex and social media platforms and pointed out the need for safeguards as well as accountability from them.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Senator Chris Coons praises Biden administration
Biden farewell speech live updates: Senator Chris Coons, praised President Biden and said that he had faced an economic crisis, a public health crisis, and a democracy crisis and had led the country admirably.
"The country was in the depths of crises. The recovery from that pandemic has been his single greatest accomplishment," Coons said.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Former President Barack Obama expresses gratitude for Biden's leadership
Biden farewell speech live updates: Former President Barack Obama on Thursday expressed his gratitude for the leadership of President Biden.
In a post on X he said, “Four years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, we needed a leader with the character to put politics aside and do what was right. That's what Joe Biden did.”
"I'm grateful to Joe for his leadership, his friendship, and his lifetime of service to this country we love," Obama added.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden's solutions for fairness in America
Biden farewell speech live updates: During his final speech in the Oval Office, President Biden highlighted various concerns he had about the future of America and outlined a few solutions he would like to play out.
H called for a change in the tax code to ensure billionaires “pay their fair share,” elimination of the flow of hidden sources of ‘dark’ money into political campaigns, establishing 18-year term limits for members of the Supreme Court and banning members of congress from trading stocks.
Biden farewell speech live updates: ‘Seeds are planted, will bloom for decades to come’ said Biden
Biden farewell speech live updates: While reflecting on his legacy as President and the many initiatives undertaken by his administration in the last four year, Joe Biden said during his final address, “It’ll take time to feel the full impact of what we’ve done together but the seeds are planted and they’ll grow and they’ll bloom for decades to come.”
Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden's speech on tech-industrial complex echoes former President Eisenhower
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Joe Biden's speech on Thursday had a connection to a 1961 speech made by former President Eisenhower in his final address.
Eisenhower in his 1961 address had warned the country about the military-industrial complex, while Biden, 64 years down the line, spoke about the dangers of the tech-industrial complex which endangered American democracy.
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden greets family after speech
Biden farewell speech live updates: After a speech filled with warnings for the future of America, President Biden was seen reuniting with his wife Jill Biden, and grandson Beau.
His son Hunter and Vice President Kamala Harris were also in the Oval Office as he delivered his speech.
Biden farewell speech live updates: 'It's been the highest honour of my life to lead you as commander in chief' said Biden
Biden farewell speech live updates: During his farewell address to the nation, President Biden gave thanks and also reflected on his four-year term through COVID-19, economic crises and much more.
"It's been the highest honour of my life to lead you as commander in chief," said Biden after thanking the members of his administration, service members and first responders.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden calls for amending Constitution to take away immunity from crimes committed in office
Biden farewell speech live updates: During his speech at the White House, bidding farewell to the nation, President Joe Biden called for amending the Constitution to say no president should have immunity for crimes committed in office.
His remark comes as Donald Trump is set to take over as President on January 20, after he was convicted on 34 felony counts by a New York court.
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden calls for respect towards democratic institutions
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden stated that it was important for Americans to continue believing in the democratic institutions that governed the country, claiming that they were being eroded by those with ‘excessive wealth’.
“Believing in the idea of America means respecting the institutions that govern a free society — the presidency, the Congress, the courts, a free and independent press,” Biden said.
Biden farewell speech live updates: We must lead world in AI, says Biden
Biden farewell speech live updates: During his final speech at the Oval Office, President Joe Biden also touched upon the need for America to become a leader in artificial intelligence as well as to introduce safeguards when it came to new technologies.
Biden farewell speech live updates: ‘Americans buried under avalanche of disinformation’ says President Biden
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Joe Biden during his final speech warned that Americans were succumbing to disinformation and stated that the free press, as an institution, was under threat.
“Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling,” Biden said.
He also called for social media platforms to have safeguards and be held accountable for their role in spreading disinformation.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden points out threat to climate change policies from ‘powerful forces’
Biden farewell speech live updates: US President Joe Biden reflected on his term and warned the nation that there was an attempt to challenge important climate change policies by powerful forces.
"Powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we've taken to tackle the climate crisis," Biden said.
Biden farewell speech live updates: ‘We need to get dark money out of politics’ says Biden
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden stressed the importance of getting “dark money out of politics” during his final address before Donald Trump's second term.
During his speech, he highlighted various worries surrounding the concentration of wealth and abuse of power, which he categorised as a major threat to American democracy.
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden emphasises need to hold social media platforms accountable
Biden farewell speech live updates: US President Joe Biden on Thursday emphasised the importance of holding social media platforms accountable and shared his worries about the tech-industrial complex at the centre of it.
“Americans are buried in disinformation; the free press is crumbling,” he said during his speech.
He added that safeguards were required surrounding new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Joe Biden thanks Kamala and Doug Harris, says ‘they are like family’
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden, during his final address from the White House, thanked his vice-president Kamala Harris for being his partner during his four-year term.
“I would like to thank Kamala and Doug Harris, who are like a second family to me,” he said.
Biden farewell speech live updates: In his final speech, Biden warns nation about ‘oligarchy of ultra-wealthy’
Biden farewell speech live updates: In a final address to the nation from the Oval Office, President Biden warned the nation that an ‘oligarchy of ultra-wealthy’ people was taking shape in America.
“I am concerned about a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a few people,” he added.
He stated that excessive wealth among a few was hurting the American democracy and pointed out that everyone should be required to pay their fair share of taxes.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden thanks members of administration, first responders and service members
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden expressed his appreciation for the members of his administration, first responders and service members for whom he served as commander-in-chief, during his final address as President.
Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden wishes Trump administration success
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Joe Biden wished the incoming Trump administration success and also spoke about his concerns regarding the next four years, especially regarding the erosion of democratic institutions and the abuse of power in the hands of a few wealthy people.
He warned that the American democracy was facing an era of distrust and division and that it was necessary to stay engaged in the process of democracy.
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Biden calls for maintaining a fair government ahead of Trump's term
Biden farewell speech live updates: During his final address, President Biden called for maintaining fair government ahead of Trump's second term and issued a warning for the next four years stating that it was important to safeguard democratic institutions.
He called for holding the government accountable and keeping alive the American democracy.
Biden farewell speech live updates: ‘In the last four years, I have kept my commitment to be President for all Americans’
Biden farewell speech live updates: President Joe Biden in his final address from the Oval office spoke about the power of American democracy and reflected on the last four years.
“I have kept my commitment to be President for All Americans. We have been through a tough four years with a pandemic and economic crisis we inherited. I am proud of all we have achieved,” he said.
Biden farewell speech live updates: ‘The idea of America lies in your hands’ said Biden in final letter
Biden farewell speech live updates: In a letter released on Wednesday, President Joe Biden reflected on the achievements during the four years of his term and gave a message of hope for the upcoming four years.
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. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands," he said.
"We just have to keep the faith and remember who we are," he added.
Biden farewell speech: Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gives emotional final briefing
Biden farewell speech: Press secretary for the Biden administration, Karine Jean-Pierre, on Wednesday gave an emotional final briefing to the press.
During the briefing, she said, “We might not see eye to eyes here in this room all the time, and that is okay. The give and take that happens here is incredibly healthy, and it is part of our democracy. I have been honoured to partake in it with all of you — well, most of the time."
Biden farewell speech: Outgoing president to address nation for the last time today
Biden farewell speech: Outgoing president Joe Biden will deliver his final speech as he gets ready to transfer power to Donald Trump on January 20.
Biden's speech will be aired from the Oval office in the White House at 6:30 am (8 pm ET) today.