‘End of quote’: Biden delivers farewell address to America

To begin his address, Biden took credit for the hostage deal and ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinian terror organization Hamas. "Today, after eight months of nonstop negotiation, my administration — by my administration, the ceasefire and hostage deal has been reached by Israel and Hamas, the elements of which I laid out in great detail in May this year."

He said that his administration kept the incoming Trump administration "fully informed" about the deal because the plan will be "largely implemented by the incoming administration."

Biden said that he wanted to "warn the country of some things that give me great concern." He said that there’s a "dangerous concentration of power" of a "very few ultra-wealthy people." He said there are "dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked."

"Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights, freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead," Biden said, adding that they must "play by the same rules" and "pay their fair share of taxes."

He said that the "existential threat of climate change has never been clearer," noting the wildfires in California and North Carolina, which was ravaged by Hurricane Helene. He said he signed "the most significant climate and clean energy law ever" and claimed that "the rest of the world is trying to model it."

"Now we’ve proven we don’t have to choose between protecting the environment and growing the economy. We’re doing both, but powerful forces want to wield their unchecked influence to eliminate the steps we’ve taken to tackle the climate crisis, to serve their own interest for power and profit. We must not be bullied into sacrificing the future of our children and our grandchildren. We must keep pushing forward and push faster. There’s no time to waste."

Biden also read off a teleprompter prompt, reading out "end of quote" while quoting President Eisenhower about the military-industrial complex.

Biden said that he is "equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country as well. Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is being smothered by lies told for power and for profit."

Biden listed off accomplishments of his administration that included "17 million new jobs, more than any other single administration, a single term," he passed the "most significant gun safety law in 30 years" and brought "violent crime to a 50-year low," Ukraine "is still free," and the US has "pulled ahead of our competition with China and so much more."

Biden called for a reform of the tax code, getting "dark money" out of campign funding, an 18-year term limit for Supreme Court justices, a ban on members of Congress trading stocks, and the Constitution to be amended "to make clear that no president, no president, is immune from crimes that he or she commits while at office. A president’s power is not unlimited. It’s not absolute, and it shouldn’t be."

In closing, Biden told the nation, "After 50 years of public service, I give you my word I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands. A nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith. I love America, you love it too. God bless you all, and may God protect our troops. Thank you for this great honor.