President Joe Biden plans to deliver two major speeches before leaving office which outline key parts of his over 50 years in public service. The first speech will focus on foreign policy and is expected to be delivered after his return from a trip to Italy. This will be followed by a farewell address to the country in which Biden will reflect on his decades in public office, including his four years in the White House. These speeches have not been fully drafted yet, but the themes and contours have been developed to give Americans a message for the future.
In his farewell address, Biden is expected to channel the sentiments of his recent predecessors such as George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. These former Presidents delivered their farewell speeches from the White House or in front of large audiences of supporters. President-elect Donald Trump, on losing the 2020 election, posted a pre-recorded video message online a day before Biden’s inauguration. Biden’s foreign policy speech will emphasize the importance of investing in America’s alliances across the world, including strengthening NATO and U.S. relations in the Indo-Pacific, as well as supporting Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
There is uncertainty over how much Biden’s foreign policy speech will address the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021, which has faced significant criticism and led to the deaths of American service members. He is likely to mention efforts to combat terrorist groups like ISIS, while not dwelling on domestic terrorism threats. The administration is looking into additional steps to prevent attacks driven by homegrown radicalization before Biden leaves office. The president is planning a busy final two weeks, including traveling to New Orleans to meet with victims’ families and local officials, visiting California to highlight environmental achievements, and traveling to Rome and Vatican City for a three-day visit.
Before leaving the White House on Jan. 20, President Biden is expected to issue additional pardons focused on sentencing disparities. There is consideration about pardoning individuals who may be targeted by the new Trump administration, but only if they are willing to accept clemency. Biden’s final weeks in office will be filled with various activities, speeches, international travel, and pardoning efforts, as he seeks to shape his legacy before handing over the presidency.
