美国总统乔·拜登(Joe Biden)周三在镜头前向美国人民发表讲话，这是他令人震惊地退出2024年竞选以来的第一次。
在椭圆形办公室发表的黄金时段演讲中，拜登表示，他认为最好是将火炬“传递”给下一代。他说，任何事情——包括“个人野心”——都不应该妨碍拯救民主。
在经历了几十年的职业生涯后，现在将是他在任的最后几个月，拜登还谈到了他的成就以及他在剩余任期内仍想追求的目标。
请阅读下面由白宫发布的拜登演讲:
“我的美国同胞们，今晚我站在椭圆形办公室的办公桌后向你们发表讲话。
在这个神圣的地方，我被杰出的美国总统的画像包围着。托马斯·杰斐逊，他写下了指导这个国家的不朽的文字。乔治·华盛顿，他向我们展示了总统不是国王。亚伯拉罕·林肯，他恳求我们拒绝恶意。富兰克林·罗斯福，他激励我们拒绝恐惧。
我尊敬这个职位，但我更爱我的国家。
作为你们的总统是我一生的荣幸。但是为了捍卫处于危急关头的民主，我认为这比任何头衔都重要。
在为美国人民工作的过程中，我汲取力量，找到快乐。但是这个完善我们联邦的神圣任务不是我的事。是关于你，你的家庭，你的未来。这是关于“我们人民”我们永远不会忘记，我永远不会忘记。
我已经明确表示，我认为美国正处于一个转折点，这是历史上少有的时刻之一，我们现在做出的决定将决定我们国家和世界未来几十年的命运。美国将不得不在前进或后退、希望和仇恨、团结和分裂之间做出选择。
我们必须决定:我们是否仍然相信诚实、正派和尊重;自由、正义和民主?
此时此刻，我们可以把那些与我们意见相左的人视为美国同胞，而不是敌人或朋友。我们能做到吗?公众生活中的性格还重要吗?
我相信我知道这些问题的答案，因为我了解你们，美国人民。
我知道:我们是一个伟大的国家，因为我们是善良的人民。
当你选我到这个办公室的时候，我承诺永远对你诚实，告诉你真相。事实上，这个国家的神圣事业比我们任何一个人都重要。
我们这些珍惜这一事业的人——非常珍惜这一事业——美国民主本身的事业——必须团结起来保护它。
你知道，最近几周，我越来越清楚，我需要在这场关键的努力中团结我的政党。我相信我作为总统的记录，我在世界上的领导地位，我对美国未来的愿景都值得连任，但是没有什么——没有什么——能够拯救我们的民主。这包括个人野心。
所以，我决定最好的前进方式是将火炬传递给新一代。这是团结我们国家的最好方法。
我知道在公共生活中有一段时间和一个地方可以积累多年的经验。但是，新的声音，新鲜的声音——是的，年轻的声音——也有出现的时间和地点。时间和地点就是现在。
在接下来的六个月里，我将专注于做好总统的工作。这意味着我将继续为勤劳的家庭降低成本，发展我们的经济。我将继续捍卫我们的个人自由和公民权利，从选举权到选择权。我将继续呼吁仇恨和极端主义，并表明在美国没有政治暴力或任何暴力的容身之地。
我将继续-继续大声疾呼，保护我们的孩子免受枪支暴力，保护我们的星球免受气候危机。这是对生存的威胁。
我将继续为我的癌症登月计划而奋斗，这样我们就能终结癌症，因为我们能做到。
我将呼吁最高法院改革，因为这对我们的民主至关重要——最高法院改革。
你知道，我将继续努力确保美国保持强大和安全，并成为自由世界的领袖。
我是本世纪第一位向美国人民报告美国在世界任何地方都没有处于战争状态的总统。
我将继续召集骄傲的国家联盟，阻止普京接管乌克兰并造成更多破坏。
我将使北约更加强大，我将使它比我们历史上任何时候都更加强大和团结。我将继续为我们在太平洋的盟友做同样的事情。
你知道，当我上任时，传统观点认为中国将不可避免地超过美国。现在不是这样的了。
我将继续努力结束加沙战争，解救所有人质，给中东带来和平与安全，结束这场战争。
我们也在夜以继日地工作，让在世界各地被不公正拘留的美国人回家。
你知道，自从我就职以来，我们已经走了这么远。那一天，当我站在那个冬天的时候，我告诉你们——我们站在一个充满危险和可能性的冬天——危险和可能性。
我们处在世界的掌控之中- -我们处在一个世纪以来最糟糕的疫情，自大萧条以来最严重的经济危机，自内战以来对我们民主最严重的攻击。但是我们作为美国人团结在一起，度过了难关。
我们变得更加强大、更加繁荣、更加安全。
今天，我们拥有世界上最强大的经济，创造了近1600万个新的就业机会——创纪录。工资上涨了。通货膨胀继续下降。种族财富差距是20年来最低的。
我们正在重建我们整个国家——城市、郊区、农村和部落社区。
制造业已经回到美国。我们在芯片、科学和创新方面再次引领世界。
经过这么多年，我们终于击败了大型制药公司，降低了老年人处方药的成本。我将继续努力，确保我们为每个人降低成本，而不仅仅是老年人。
今天在美国，比以往任何时候都有更多的人享受医疗保健。我还签署了一项最重要的法律，帮助数百万暴露在有毒物质中的退伍军人及其家人。
你知道，世界历史上最重要的气候法案。30年来第一部重要的枪支安全法。今天，暴力犯罪率处于50年来的最低点。
我们也在保护我们的边境。与前任政府离任时相比，今天的过境人数减少了。
我履行了我的承诺，任命了第一位黑人女性进入美国最高法院。我也信守了我的承诺，要有一个像美国一样的政府，做一个所有美国人的总统。我就是这么做的。
四年前，我参加了总统竞选，因为我相信并且仍然相信处于危急关头是美国的灵魂。我们的本质就是处于危急关头。现在仍然如此。
美国是一种理念，这种理念比任何军队都强大，比任何海洋都强大，比任何独裁者或暴君都强大。这是世界历史上最强有力的想法。
那就是我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的。我们生而平等，造物主赋予我们某些不可剥夺的权利:生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。
我们从未完全实践过这个神圣的理念，但我们也从未放弃过它。我不相信美国人民现在会放弃。
再过几个月，美国人民将选择美国未来的道路。
我做出了选择。我已经表明了我的观点。
我要感谢我们伟大的副总统卡玛拉·哈里斯。她很有经验。她很坚强。她很能干。她一直是我不可思议的合作伙伴，也是我们国家的领导人。
现在选择取决于你们，美国人民。
当你作出这个选择时，请记住本杰明·富兰克林的话，他现在挂在我椭圆形办公室的墙上，旁边是金博士、罗莎·帕克斯和凯萨·查维斯的半身像。
当本.富兰克林在大会结束后被问及开国元勋们给了美国君主制还是共和制时，富兰克林的回答是，"如果你能保持的话，那就是共和制。"“一个共和国，如果你能保持它。”我们能否保住我们的共和国现在掌握在你手中。
我的美国同胞们，为这个国家服务50多年是我一生的荣幸。在地球上没有其他地方，一个出生在宾夕法尼亚州斯克兰顿和特拉华州克莱蒙的口吃孩子有一天会坐在椭圆形办公室的果断办公桌后成为美国总统。但是我在这里。
这就是美国的特别之处。我们是一个充满希望和可能性的国家，是一个梦想家和实干家的国家，是一个普通美国人做着非凡事情的国家。
像许多其他人一样，我把我的心和我的灵魂献给了我们的国家。我得到了无数次的祝福，作为回报，我得到了美国人民的爱和支持。
我希望你们知道我是多么感激你们所有人。美国的伟大之处在于这里没有国王和独裁者统治。人们知道。
历史掌握在你手中。权力在你手中。美国的理念掌握在你们手中。
我们只需要保持信念——保持信念，记住我们是谁。我们是美利坚合众国，只要我们齐心协力，就没有什么事是我们力所不及的。所以，让我们一起行动，维护我们的民主。
上帝保佑你们。愿上帝保护我们的军队。
谢谢你。"
Read the transcript of Biden's Oval Office address on decision to leave 2024 race
President Joe Biden on Wednesday addressed the American people on camera for the first time since his stunning exit from the 2024 race.
In a prime-time speech delivered in the Oval Office, Biden said he believed it was best to "pass the torch" to the next generation. He said that nothing -- including "personal ambition" -- should get in the way of saving democracy.
Entering what will now be his final few months in office after a decades-long career, Biden also spoke about his accomplishments and what he still wants to pursue during the remainder of his term.
Read Biden's address as delivered and released by the White House below:
"My fellow Americans, I'm speaking to you tonight from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
In this sacred space, I'm surrounded by portraits of extraordinary American presidents. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the immortal words that guide this nation. George Washington, who showed us presidents are not kings. Abraham Lincoln, who implored us to reject malice. Franklin Roosevelt, who inspired us to reject fear.
I revere this office, but I love my country more.
It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it's more important than any title.
I draw strength and I find joy in working for the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our Union -- it's not about me. It's about you, your families, your futures. It's about "We the People." We can never forget that, and I never have.
I've made it clear that I believe America is at an inflection point, one of those rare moments in history when 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.
We have to decide: Do we still believe in honesty, decency, and respect; freedom, justice, and democracy?
In this moment, we can see those we disagree with not as enemies or -- but as frien- -- as fellow Americans. Can we do that? Does character in public life still matter?
I believe I know the answer to these questions, because I know you, the American people.
And I know this: We are a great nation because we are a good people.
When you elected me to this office, I promised to always level with you, to tell you the truth. And the truth, the sacred cause of this country is larger than any one of us.
And those of us who cheri[sh] that cause -- cherish it so much -- the cause of American democracy itself -- must unite to protect it.
You know, in recent weeks, it's become clear to me that I needed to unite my party in this critical endeavor. I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future all merited a second term, but nothing -- nothing -- can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.
So, I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That's the best way to unite our nation.
I know there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life. But there is also a time and place for new voices, fresh voices -- yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.
Over the next six months, I'll be focused on doing my job as president. That means I will continue to lower costs for hardworking families, grow our economy. I'll keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights, from the right to vote to the right to choose. And I'll keep calling out hate and extremism and make it clear there is no place -- no place in America for political violence or any violence ever, period.
I'm going to keep -- keep speaking out to protect our kids from gun violence, our planet from the climate crisis. It is the existential threat.
And I will keep fighting my -- for my Cancer Moonshot so we can end cancer as we know it, because we can do it.
And I'm going to call for Supreme Court reform because this is critical to our democracy -- Supreme Court reform.
You know, I will keep working to ensure America remains strong and secure and the leader of the free world.
I'm the first president in this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world.
I will keep rallying a coalition of proud nations to stop Putin from taking over Ukraine and doing more damage.
I will keep NATO stronger, and I'll make it more powerful and more united than any time in all of our history. And I'll keep doing the same for our allies in the Pacific.
You know, when I came to office, the conventional wisdom was that China would inevitably -- would inevitably pass the United -- surpass the United States. That's not the case anymore.
And I'm going to keep working to end the war in Gaza, bring home all the hostages, and bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war.
We're also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.
You know, we have come so far since my inauguration. On that day, I told you as I stood in that winter -- we stood in a winter of peril and a winter of possibilities -- peril and possibilities.
We're in the grip of the wor- -- we were in the grip of the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. But we came together as Americans and we got through it.
We emerged stronger, more prosperous, and more secure.
And today, we have the strongest economy in the world, creating nearly 16 million new jobs -- a record. Wages are up. Inflation continues to come down. The racial wealth gap is the lowest it's been in 20 years.
We're literally rebuilding our entire nation -- urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal communities.
Manufacturing has come back to America. We're leading the world again in chips and science and innovation.
And we finally beat Big Pharma after all these years to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. And I'm going to keep fighting to make sure we lower the costs for everyone, not just seniors.
More people have health care today in America than ever before. And I signed one of the most significant laws helping millions of veterans and their families who were exposed to toxic materials.
You know, the most significant climate law ever -- ever in the history of the world. The first major gun safety law in 30 years. And today, violent -- the violent crime rate is at a 50-year low.
We're also securing our border. Border crossings are lower today than when the previous administration left office.
And I kept my commitment to appoint the first Black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. I also kept my commitment to have an administration that looks like America and to be a president for all Americans. That's what I've done.
I ran for president four years ago because I believed and still do that the soul of America was at stake. The very nature of who we are was at stake. And that's still the case.
America is an idea -- an idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant. It's the most powerful idea in the history of the world.
That idea is that we hold these truths to be self-evident. We're all created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.
We've never fully lived up to it -- to this sacred idea, but we've never walked away from it either. And I do not believe the American people will walk away from it now.
In just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America's future.
I made my choice. I have made my views known.
I would like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris. She's experienced. She's tough. She's capable. She has been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.
Now the choice is up to you, the American people.
When you make that choice, remember the words of Benjamin Franklin, who's hanging on my wall here in the Oval Office alongside the busts of Dr. King and Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez.
When Ben Franklin was asked as he emerged from the -- the con- -- the -- the convention going on whether the Founders had given America a monarchy or a republic, Franklin's response was, "A republic, if you can keep it." "A republic, if you can keep it." Whether we keep our republic is now in your hands.
My fellow Americans, it's been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years. Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States. But here I am.
That's what's so special about America. We are a nation of promise and possibilities, of dreamers and doers, of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.
I have given my heart and my soul to our nation, like so many others. And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people.
I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you. The great thing about America is here kings and dictators do not rule. The people do.
History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands.
We just have to keep faith -- keep the faith and remember who we are. We are the United States of America, and there is simply nothing -- nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together. So, let's act together, preserve our democracy.
God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.
Thank you."
