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Election 2024 updates: Harris in 1st campaign ad targets Trump legal woes

"What kind of country do we want to live in?" Harris says in the video.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Julia Reinstein, Lauren Peller, Nadine El-Bawab, Leah Sarnoff, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: July 24, 2024, 9:21 PM EDT

President Joe Biden gave an Oval Office address to the nation Wednesday night to explain why he dropped out of the presidential race and to outline what he hopes to do in his remaining six months in office.

Vice President Kamala Harris is pushing ahead with campaigning for president days after Biden's decision.

With enough delegates secured to become the presumptive Democratic nominee if they keep to their pledges, Harris has held her first campaign rallies. Donald Trump attacked Harris in North Carolina at his first rally since Biden decided against running for reelection.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
8:44 PM EDT

White House staff, family in Oval Office give president ovation after speech

After the president concluded at 8:12 p.m., he was applauded by staff and family gathered in the Oval Office for about 60 seconds.

First lady Jill Biden and several of the president’s grandchildren sat in chairs positioned along the wall to the president’s left.

President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024.
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ashley Biden, the president’s daughter, sat next to her mother, with her eyes closed, taking several deep breaths during the first few minutes of the address.

The first lady held Ashley Biden’s hand towards the end.

President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden (R) after addressing the nation about his decision to not seek reelection, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024.
Evan Vucci, Pool via AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: President Joe Biden hugs his daughter Ashley Biden in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024.
President Joe Biden hugs his daughter Ashley Biden, alongside First Lady Jill Biden, his son Hunter Biden, and Hunter's daughter Finnegan Biden, after addressing the nation about his decision to not seek reelection, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024.
Evan Vucc, Pool via AFP via Getty Images

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt watched from a monitor set up in the back of the room. The president’s top advisers, Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti, were also at the White House to observe the moment.

-ABC News' John Parkinson and Justin Gomez

8:35 PM EDT

'He passed the torch to all of us': Jeffries

House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries responded to Biden's speech in a statement on X saying the president "has run a great race and left our country a better place."

"He passed the torch to all of us. It is now our responsibility to save American democracy," he said.

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8:30 PM EDT

Biden looks back at accomplishments

The president looked back at his accomplishments in office noting that the country was still reeling from the pandemic and bounced back.

He cited the 12 million new jobs created, increasing wages and declining inflation.

"We're literally rebuilding our entire nation, urban, suburban, rural, [and] tribal communities," he said.

8:20 PM EDT

Biden expresses gratitude for the office he long sought

Near the end of his speech, Biden turned personal as he recalled his roots and long career in public service.

"My fellow Americans, it has been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years," he said. "Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings of 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."

"I give my heart and my soul to my nation, like so many others, but I'm blessed a million times in return for the love and support of the American people," he said. "I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you."