Biden to bid farewell to Americans in final Oval Office address

US President likely to reflect on past four years and his decision not to run for second term

President Joe Biden gave a wide-ranging foreign policy speech at the State Department on Monday. AP

US President Joe Biden will say goodbye to Americans on Wednesday evening, as he ends his one term in office before Donald Trump's inauguration.

The speech, which will be delivered from the Oval Office, is likely to be the last prime-time opportunity for the elder statesman to speak to Americans before he leaves office on January 20.

On Monday, he spoke at the State Department, where he gave wide-ranging remarks summarising his administration's efforts abroad. He focused on how he had restored American alliances and global leadership after four years under Mr Trump, and that he would be handing his successor a "very strong hand to play".

The White House has not revealed the contents of the coming speech, but Mr Biden, 82, is likely to reflect on his past four years, including his decision not to run for a second term in office. In July, he stepped aside amid enormous pressure from his Democratic Party after a disastrous performance during a debate against Mr Trump.

Vice President Kamala Harris ran in his place, with only a few months to put together a campaign. It is an effort that normally requires at least a year.

"I think I would have beaten Trump and would have beaten Trump," Mr Biden told journalists on Friday. "I thought it was important to unify the party and when the party was worried about whether or not I was going to be able to move, even though I thought I could win again, I thought it was better to unify the party."

Domestically, Mr Biden takes pride in passing legislation that favoured working-class Americans, including student debt forgiveness and lowering prescription drug costs.

Most Americans, though, blamed his administration for inflation, particularly the increase in food and housing costs. His popularity also suffered after the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which led to the deaths of 13 US troops.

“In my mind, it was time to end the war and bring our troops home, and that’s what we did," he said on Monday. "And I think history will reflect that.”

Mr Biden, who has not specified how he would be spending his time after his presidency, is also likely to reflect on the end of a political career that began more than 50 years ago.

"I'm not going to be out of sight or out of mind," he said.