Biden speaks to America about his legacy on the same day rioters destroy monuments across Capitol

President Joe Biden gave what seemed to be a farewell address from the Oval Office on Wednesday night, but he did not resign. Instead, he said he will use the next six months to work on beating up the pharmaceutical industry, packing the Supreme Court, lowering prices for American consumers, fighting climate change, and taking away guns owned by U.S. citizens.

While he spoke, spray paint vandalism on the nation’s monuments in Washington, D.C. was still fresh and the burning remains of American flags drifted around the nation’s capital, where violent protesters had spent much of the day taking over the streets, battling police and raising Palestinian flags in place of the American flags they tore down and burned.

Biden, who had on heavy makeup, giving him an uncharacteristic healthy tan, said he had come to the realization over the past few weeks that passing the torch to a new generation was best for America, and that he was proud of his 50 years of service to the country.

“I’ve decided that the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That’s the best way to unite our nation,” he said.

“I’ve made it clear that America is at an inflection point, one of those rare moments in history where the decisions we make now will determine our fate of our nation and the world for decades to come America is going to have to choose between moving forward or backward. Between hope and hate, between unity and division,” he said.

Biden used his bully pulpit to ask people to vote for Kamala Harris, his vice president, who he praised for her intelligence and experience.

He referred to Jan. 6, 2021 obliquely, but said it was the worst attack on democracy since the Civil War.

Outside, police had been battling violent protesters for much of the day.

“Today, the violent crime rate is at a 15-year low. We’re also securing our border. Border crossings are lower today than when the previous administration left office,” Biden said.

He said he was proud to have put together an administration that looks like America, admitting that he had hired for diversity, equity, and inclusion, rather than for ability or skill.

In the few minutes that Biden struggled to read the teleprompter, he never said exactly why he had sent out the letter withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race, with just over 100 days until the general election.

“Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy, and that includes personal ambition. And I’ve decided that the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That’s the best way to unite our nation. You know, there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, there’s also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, and yes, younger voices, and that time and a place is now.”

Biden repeatedly lied throughout his speech, saying things like inflation is down and border crossings are below what they were under the Trump Administration.

Meanwhile, at a rally in North Carolina, Donald Trump said that “If Kamala will lie to you so brazenly about Joe Biden’s mental incapacity, then she will lie to you about anything. She can never, ever be trusted.”

In the week and a half since surviving an assassin’s bullet, Trump drew over 10,000 people to his Wednesday rally, and the line of people who could not get in stretched for a mile outside the venue.