Former President Joe Biden addressed supporters and staff at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Monday afternoon, delivering a farewell speech on the day of Donald Trump‘s inauguration. In his speech, Biden emphasized the need for continued efforts and asserted that they’re “not leaving the fight” even after departing the White house.
Biden, 82, spoke as Trump was addressing his own supporters, acknowledging the challenges ahead and the importance of perseverance.
“Look, I know from many years of experience, there are ups and downs, but we have to stay with it,” Biden said, recalling his father’s lesson. “My dad taught me the measure of a person is how quickly they get up when they get knocked down – and that’s what we have to do right now,” he added to his speech.
“We never give up – we’re leaving office – but we’re not leaving the fight,” he declared, urging his administration members to remain engaged in various capacities, whether in the public or private sector, or even by running for office themselves.
Biden expressed gratitude for his team’s “incredible” work and said serving as their president was the honor of his life. The crowd chanted, “Thank you, Joe,” as he concluded his speech before boarding the Nighthawk 46 helicopter with his wife, Jill, to begin their post-presidential life.

In his final hours in office, Biden issued a series of presidential pardons, setting a record for any president. He pardoned family members, including his brother James and his wife Sara, his sister Valerie and her husband John Owens, and his brother Francis, in response to what he called “unrelenting attacks” by Trump and his allies.
Among others pardoned were Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US public health response to the coronavirus pandemic, and members of the committee that investigated the January 6 insurrection. On Friday, Biden also announced the reduction of sentences for nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses and commuted the death sentences of 37 individuals to life imprisonment.