Biden tries to lift Democrats' spirits on last full day in office

20/1/2025 5:57

U.S. President Joe Biden

urged despondent fellow Democrats not to give up hope as he

returned to the warm embrace of South Carolina's Black

churchgoing community to mark the final full day of his

presidency on Sunday.



Biden leaves office on Monday, ending a four-year term that

leaves his Democratic Party in the political wilderness when he

hands the office back to Republican rival Donald Trump, whom

Democrats consider a threat to democracy.



At the Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston,

Biden was remembered fondly by political allies and received a

standing ovation from church attendees.



"We often reflect on resurrection and redemption, but

remember, Jesus was buried on Friday, and he rose on Sunday,"

Biden told churchgoers from the pulpit. "We don't talk enough

about Saturday, when his disciples felt all hope was lost."



His remarks came amid major developments in the waning hours

of Biden's presidency, including a long-sought ceasefire and

hostage deal in Gaza, an issue that has loomed over the last 15

months of Biden's presidency.



"I'm going to say to you, great friend, very little

appreciation has been shown recently, but faint not, history

will be very kind to you," said Representative Jim Clyburn, who

spoke before Biden, remembering sour early appraisals of Abraham

Lincoln, Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson.



Biden alluded to bitter political disappointment following

his withdrawal last summer from the race for a second term in

office over concerns about his age and performance on the

campaign trail but suggested he intended to stay in the public

eye after his term ends.



"I'm in no ways tired," Biden said, echoing the words of a

gospel standard to applause. "I'm not going anywhere."



South Carolina Democrats rescued Biden's political career in

February 2020, delivering him his first presidential primary win

and momentum he would sustain through his victory over Trump

later that year.



Biden credited Clyburn's late endorsement in that race with

delivering voters in the state and said he could think of no

better place to spend his final full day in office.



There, at the largely Black church, Biden marked the Martin

Luther King Jr. holiday a day in advance, alongside his wife,

Jill, and son, Hunter, and other family members and close aides.



He gave an offering before entering, according to the

pastor, and later visited the International African American

Museum in Charleston.



Parishioners swayed and an electric bass thumped during the

service.



"Every time I spend time in a Black church," Biden said, "I

think of one thing: the word 'hope.'"