Joe Biden announces memoir of presidency, why he stepped aside for Kamala, 'Promise Me, America'

Former President Joe Biden has announced that he will publish a memoir this fall detailing his four years in the White House, including his decision to abandon his 2024 reelection campaign and hand the Democratic nomination to then-Vice President Kamala Harris after mounting pressure from within his own party.

The book, Promise Me, America, will be released on Nov. 17, just two weeks after the 2026 midterm elections. According to publisher Little, Brown and Co., the memoir will cover Biden's presidency, his administration's major policy decisions, and the dramatic final weeks of his reelection campaign before he withdrew from the race. "The book is about the challenges we faced as a nation. It's about the decisions I made and why I made them," Biden said in a video announcing the memoir. "Most of all, it's about my faith in the promise of America."

One of the book's central themes is expected to be Biden's unprecedented decision to end his reelection campaign after his widely criticized June 2024 debate performance against President Donald Trump intensified concerns over his age and fitness for office. After weeks of pressure from Democratic lawmakers, donors and party leaders, Biden stepped aside in July 2024 and endorsed Harris, who went on to become the Democratic nominee before ultimately losing the general election, and all seven swing states, to Trump.

The memoir arrives as Biden's presidency continues to face renewed scrutiny following the publication of Original Sin by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson. The book alleged that senior White House aides and Democratic insiders sought to shield the public from the extent of Biden's physical and cognitive decline while he pursued a second term, reigniting debate over whether he should have sought reelection at all.

Biden, who left office with record-low approval ratings, also addressed his health issues in the announcement. "I've been spending a lot of time with my family. I'm dealing with a cancer diagnosis, been getting treatment, and it's going really well," he said. "I want to thank all those who have offered their prayers and support and well-wishes. It's meant the world to me and to Jill."

The title Promise Me, America echoes Biden's earlier memoirs, Promise Me, Dad and Promises to Keep. Biden, who turns 84 three days after the book's release, plans to promote the memoir through a national book tour and a series of media interviews, according to his publisher.

Biden has delayed the release until after the November midterm elections.