PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN: Embrace freedom and democracy, give hate no safe harbor

Friday, March 8, 2024 -- My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America: Honesty; Decency; Dignity; Equality. ... To give hate no safe harbor. Now some other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That's not me.

Posted 10:00 a.m. Mar 8 — Updated 10:00 a.m. Mar 8

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is the conclusion of President Joseph Biden's 2024 State of the Nation speech. A transcript of the full speech is available here. Video of the speech before Congress is available here.

I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while. And when you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever before.

I know the American story. Again and again I’ve seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation. Between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future.

My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy. A future based on the core values that have defined America.

Honesty. Decency. Dignity. Equality.

To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor.

Now some other people my age see a different story. An American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution.

That’s not me.

I was born amid World War II when America stood for freedom in the world. I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Claymont, Delaware among working people who built this country. I watched in horror as two of my heroes, Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, were assassinated and their legacies inspired me to pursue a career in service.

A public defender, county councilman, elected United States Senator at 29, then Vice President, to our first Black President, now President, with our first woman Vice President.

In my career I’ve been told I’m too young and I’m too old. Whether young or old, I’ve always known what endures.

Our North Star.

The very idea of America, that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We’ve never fully lived up to that idea, but we’ve never walked away from it either.

And I won’t walk away from it now.

My fellow Americans the issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are it’s how old our ideas are?

Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas.

But you can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future of what America can and should be.

Tonight you’ve heard mine.

I see a future where we defend democracy not diminish it. I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect other freedoms not take them away.

I see a future where the middle class finally has a fair shot and the wealthy finally have to pay their fair share in taxes. I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence.

Above all, I see a future for all Americans!

I see a country for all Americans! And I will always be a president for all Americans! Because I believe in America!

I believe in you the American people. You’re the reason I’ve never been more optimistic about our future!

So let’s build that future together! Let’s remember who we are! We are the United States of America.

There is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together!

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