President Joe Biden defended his legacy in his final address to the United Nations General Assembly and spoke about his painful decision to leave office.
But he also looked to the future. while issuing a stark warning of war in the Middle East and pressing for continued support for Ukraine.
He sounded melancholy as he spoke of his decision to step down as leader of the free world.
“This summer I was faced with the decision of whether to run for a second term as president. It was a difficult decision. Being president has been the honor of my life. There is so much more I want to do,” he said.
“While I love my job, I love my country more. I decided that after 50 years of public service, it is time for a new generation of leaders to lead my nation forward.”
“Dear leaders, let us never forget that there are more important things than staying in power. What matters most is your people. Never forget that we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.”
The UN body, which included leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, gave him sustained applause.
“Dear fellow leaders, let us never forget that there are more important things than staying in power. What matters most is your people,” he told the UN General Assembly.
Biden began his remarks by acknowledging the solemn moment.
“Today is the fourth time I have had the great honor of addressing this assembly as President of the United States. It will be the last,” he said.
He began his nearly 25-minute speech by defending his actions in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, where 13 Americans died, and looking at the world’s recovery from the COVID pandemic.
He also reflected on his years of public service, speaking of the events he has witnessed – the Vietnam War and the 9/11 attacks among them.
He then looked to the future and called for peace in the Middle East.
“It is time for the parties to finalize their terms, bring the hostages home, ensure the security of Israel and Gaza, free Hamas from control, alleviate the suffering in Gaza and end this war on October 7,” he said.
“Since October 7, we are also determined to prevent a broader war encompassing the entire region,” he said.
His warning came as Israel expanded its airstrikes on Lebanon with airstrikes on Monday that killed nearly 500 people, wounded more than 1,600 others and appeared to signal the start of a broader military campaign.
Israel said it targeted “terrorists” linked to Hezbollah, the group that has been firing rockets into Israel.
“Our task, our test, is to make sure that the forces that bind us together are stronger than those that divide us,” Biden said. “I truly believe that we are at another turning point in world history, because the decisions we make today will determine our future for decades to come.”
President Joe Biden reflected on his decision to resign as president
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky listens to Biden’s speech at the UN
The president also doubled down on his support for Ukraine. He delivered his speech in the shadow of the presidential race. His vice president, Kamala Harris, is expected to maintain many of his foreign policy initiatives.
But there are concerns about US support for the war in Ukraine if Donald Trump wins.
Biden and Harris will hold separate meetings with Zelensky at the White House on Thursday.
But the president told the UN body that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “failed” in his attempt to make gains in Ukraine.
“Putin’s war has failed in its main objective,” he said.
“But we cannot give up. The world now has another choice to make: will we continue our support to help Ukraine win? … I know my answer. We cannot tire. We cannot look the other way and we will not stop supporting Ukraine.”
The UN Security Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss Ukraine. Zelensky is expected to present a new peace proposal and call for greater military support to launch deeper attacks into Russia.
President Biden at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Biden, who has championed democracy and described Trump as a threat to it, also issued a broad warning against dictators.
“We must ensure that the incredible capabilities of AI are used to improve and empower ordinary people, not to give dictators more powerful shackles,” he said.
He did not mention his Republican rival by name.
After finishing his remarks, as leaders applauded him, Biden put his hand over his heart and walked away from the lectern.