Biden says he put 'personal ambition' aside to 'pass the torch' to Harris for Trump battle

• The White House speech was the first time President Joe Biden addressed the nation since dropping out of the race against Donald Trump and endorsing Kamala Harris.
• Harris has so far secured the endorsement of hundreds of Democratic lawmakers, raked in record levels of donations and started to catch up to Trump in the polls.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday night told the American public that "the defense of democracy is more important than any title," as he explained his stunning decision to drop out of the presidential election and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's nominee.

"I draw strength, and find joy, in working for the American people," Biden said from the Oval Office.

"But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It's about you. Your families. Your futures. It's about 'We the People.' "

 "I gave my heart and my soul to our nation," Biden said. "I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you."

Biden's speech comes three days after the 81-year-old president quit the race against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and threw his full support behind Harris.

"I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden said.

"That is the best way to unite our nation."

Biden, without mentioning Trump by name, nodded to the threat he believes the Republican represents to the United States if he is elected in November, and to the risk Biden would have run if he remained in the race.

"I ran for president four years ago because I believed and still do, that the soul of America was a stake," said Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020. "The very nature of who we are was a stake. And that's still the case."

But, the president said