(NewsNation) — Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly called President Joe Biden “incompetent and inefficient” and “the second worst president this country has ever had” following his prime-time address to the nation about his decision not to seek reelection.
O’Reilly, appearing on NewsNation’s “CUOMO,” criticized Biden’s farewell address, stating, “He sits there for 15 minutes telling us how great his administration was. And 70% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track.”
Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden used his first public address since his announcement Sunday that he was stepping aside to deliver an implicit repudiation of Trump.
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O’Reilly claimed that Democratic Party leaders, including Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama, pressured Biden to step aside.
The former Fox News host also expressed skepticism about Vice President Kamala Harris‘ chances in the upcoming election, describing her as “pretty close to being a socialist” based on her Senate record.
O’Reilly contrasted Harris with former President Donald Trump, characterizing the potential matchup as “socialist versus capitalist.”
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Biden did not directly call out Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to democracy. The 10-minute address also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history will remember his only term in office.
“Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” Biden said, in a somber coda to his 50 years spent in public office. “And that includes personal ambition.”
It was a moment for the history books — a U.S. president reflecting before the nation on why he was taking the rare step of voluntarily handing off power. It hasn’t been done since 1968 when Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection in the heat of the Vietnam War.
“I revere this office,” Biden said. “But I love my country more.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
