Biden defends the US military's defense legacy
Fox News correspondent Mark Meredith's “Special Report” summarizes the conflicting opinions on President Biden's legacy as the president bids farewell to US military service members.
President Biden On Thursday, he thanked military service members for their “strength” and “integrity” while delivering his farewell speech in Virginia.
“There has never been a time in history when we have asked our military to do so many different things in so many places, all at the same time,” the president said at Joint Base Meyer Henderson Hall in Virginia. “And I want to be clear: You have done all of these tasks with vigor and, perhaps more importantly, integrity.”
Biden's speech to the troops came the morning after his farewell address to the nation in which he said it was a “great honor” to be the 46th president.
It also comes four days ago President-elect Trump He succeeds in it.
President Biden on Thursday thanked military service members for their “strength” and “integrity” as he delivered his farewell address at the Department of Defense. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“You all represent what America is about: character, honesty, integrity and commitment,” Biden told the soldiers. “You are simply the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.”
The president said the troops “rose to the occasion” when he asked to end the war in Afghanistan, “evacuate Americans, allies and our Afghan partners, accomplish the largest airlift in military history and end the war.” The same courage is evident in American service in Afghanistan for more than 20 years.”
He said he believed “history will reflect that this was the right thing to do, but I know, I know, it was hard after decades of losing your brothers and sisters, including (during) l) Withdrawal. The pain was still real. And it was for me as well. “I still carry it all day, every day.”
Biden has been criticized for his handling of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, when 13 US soldiers were killed.
He added that six months after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, “when Russia started its largest war in Europe since World War II, it asked you to help defend Ukraine. You did not hesitate. You kept Ukraine in the fight, and you trained Ukrainian soldiers.” “Aviators and troops strengthened NATO’s eastern flank, and above all, you showed the world that America stands for freedom and stands with our friends.”
Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, during the commander-in-chief's farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myers-Henderson in Arlington, Virginia, Thursday, January 16, 2025. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He also promoted Ceasefire agreement between Israel and HamasThis is what he announced on Wednesday and mentioned for the first time in his farewell speech to the nation.
He admitted that “the path to this agreement was not easy,” saying that he “established the elements of this agreement eight months ago.”
President-elect Trump also took credit for the ceasefire.
“This epic ceasefire agreement could only happen as a result of our historic victory in November, signaling to the entire world that my Administration will seek peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies,” Trump wrote. In Social Reality Wednesday. He added: “I am thrilled that the American and Israeli hostages will return to their homes to be reunited with their families and loved ones.”
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at Commander-in-Chief Biden's farewell celebration on Thursday. (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Biden also thanked military families who “sacrificed so much” in his speech.
“Most Americans never see the sacrifices you make every day,” he continued. “You never see all those holidays and birthdays with an empty seat at the dinner table because your mom or dad deployed. You never see all the moves you had to make to new states, to new schools, to new jobs.”
He added towards the end of his speech: “You are truly the best fighting force in the history of the world,” adding that the US military has the best training, weapons, ships and aircraft.
“But this alone is not what makes us strong,” he said. “They are our values. American values. Our commitment to honor, integrity, unity, protection and defense. Not a person, party or place, but an idea.”
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Before Biden's speech, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked Biden for his service in their own remarks, which were part of the commander-in-chief's farewell greeting to the president.
