Bittersweet.

As President Joe Biden took the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Monday evening, the applause echoed loudly through the United Center in Chicago. The crowd expressed gratitude for his extensive political journey, his pivotal 2020 win, and the challenging years he served as president since.

And they were appreciative that he was now ready to step down.

Biden appeared nearly overwhelmed with feelings as he hugged his daughter Ashley, who had introduced him to the audience, and he used a handkerchief to dry his tears.

The speech he delivered on the convention’s opening night was unexpected, concluding what has been an extraordinary election cycle filled with significant events, including the unprecedented conviction of a former president on criminal charges and his unyielding response to an assassination attempt.

Amidst all this, Donald Trump remains a candidate, while Biden—who won every primary and had the support of nearly all the delegates—yielded to concerns from trusted advisors about his viability in the upcoming election.

The triumphant acceptance speech he had once planned to give just a month ago turned into a farewell address.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve you as your president,” Biden stated. “I love my job. But my love for my country surpasses all.”

He offered no further clarification on why he was delivering a farewell speech instead of an acceptance one.

The audience didn’t need any explanation. “We love Joe!” they chanted back to him.

The warmth the crowd showed towards Biden was genuine, yet the atmosphere lacked regret; instead, it was filled with a sense of relief.

A Changed Election Landscape

There were subtle signs of his age during the event, with Biden being 81—the oldest president ever. His voice was robust, but his words occasionally came out slurred, and his walk appeared stiff.

This must have hurt: The moment he decided not to run again, the landscape of the presidential race shifted and renewed hope for Democrats.

Contributions from both large and small donors surged, and polls in key states improved. Trump, who had left the recent Republican National Convention poised to build his cabinet, suddenly seemed unsure about how to tackle his new competitor.

Trump, rather than party resistance, is now the one claiming that Biden was a victim of an anti-democratic scheme.

“We have him on the run now,” Hillary Clinton remarked about Trump during her speech at the convention, an hour before Biden’s address. She didn’t need to reference the contrast with previous circumstances.

Four years earlier, Biden was denied the opportunity to deliver a traditional energetic acceptance speech due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he spoke to a nearly empty room with just a camera in sight—his speech was brief, lasting only 25 minutes and was often somber, reflecting the mood of the times.

Now, Biden came across not as an eloquent speaker—because that is not who he is—but as a genuine and earnest individual, enjoying the warm reception from the crowd.

In his address, Biden outlined the significant challenges he faced when he took office, as the pandemic was still ongoing and mere weeks after rioters had stormed the Capitol in an attempt to undermine the election results.

He described the time as “a winter of peril and possibility,” noting that challenges had been faced and overcome. “Now, we welcome summer; the winter has passed.”

Biden highlighted significant legislation he had approved and noteworthy actions he undertook, which included negotiating a significant infrastructure package, implementing new gun control laws, appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, and achieving lower drug prices for seniors.

He criticized Trump, labeling him a threat to democracy and unfit for the presidency.

Biden intended to utilize his convention speech to assert that his first term had achieved considerable milestones, setting the stage for a second term. However, he ultimately had to shift gears to endorse Harris for her presidential run.

He referred to selecting her as his running mate back in 2020 as “the best decision I ever made” and stated, “She will be a historic president who will leave her mark on America’s future.”

Five More Months in Power

For now, Biden holds the presidency for an additional five months, maintaining his role as commander-in-chief and the guardian of nuclear codes. He pledged during his speech to use every moment of his remaining term constructively.

“I have much to accomplish,” he stated. “I plan to see it through.”

Nonetheless, the stark reality is that any controversial legislation is unlikely to be passed before the inauguration of the next president and new Congress in January. The attention of the political landscape has shifted from the White House to the Naval Observatory, where the vice president resides, and to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s residence.

History requires time to evaluate, and opinions on presidencies can evolve in both positive and negative directions.

Currently, Biden is perceived as a significantly impactful president who managed the pandemic, helped navigate the economy toward stability, facilitated a united Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and made historic climate investments.

However, a presidency framed by two terms of Trump might not be credited with steering the nation on a new path; instead, it could be viewed as an anomaly. Trump, if reelected, has pledged to reverse Biden’s initiatives.

A substantial part of Biden’s legacy rides on preventing Trump from serving another term, which now hinges on Harris’s campaign.

“Join me in committing your full hearts to this cause,” he urged toward the end of his speech. “That’s where my heart will be. I promise to be the most dedicated volunteer for the Harris-Walz campaign.”

First Lady Jill Biden was the first to join him on stage after his speech, followed by Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who embraced the Bidens to cheers from the crowd.