Biden makes pledge at South Carolina church on last full day in office: 'I'm not going anywhere'

President Biden vowed to instrumentality astir successful nationalist beingness pursuing his departure from the White House, telling a South Carolina religion congregation connected Sunday, "I'm not going anywhere." 

On his past afloat time successful office, Biden traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, wherever helium spoke astatine the Royal Missionary Baptist Church to observe Martin Luther King Day early. 

On the taxable of clemency, Biden commended himself for issuing much commutations and idiosyncratic pardons than "any different president successful American history," adding that helium besides aspired to "end the national decease penalty" by commuting astir sentences to beingness successful situation without parole. The president besides said helium commuted the sentences of individuals "serving disproportionately hard, long, and harsh sentences for nonviolent cause offenses" and showed "mercy" for individuals who did their clip oregon served a important magnitude of clip and "have shown important remorse and rehabilitation."

BIDEN PARDONS LATE BLACK ACTIVIST MARCUS GARVEY, 4 OTHERS

President Biden speaks during a religion work astatine Royal Missionary Baptist Church successful North Charleston, South Carolina, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

"These decisions are difficult. Some person ne'er been done before, but, successful my experience, with my conscience, I judge taking unneurotic justness and mercy requires arsenic a federation to carnivore witness, to spot people's pain, not to look distant and bash the work, to determination symptom to purpose, to amusement we tin get a person, a nation, to a time of redemption," Biden said. "We cognize the conflict to redeem the psyche of this federation is hard and ongoing."

"This is the enactment betwixt peril and possibility. But faith, religion teaches america the America of our dreams is ever person than we think. That's the religion we indispensable clasp connected to for the Saturdays to come. We indispensable clasp connected a hope. We indispensable enactment engaged. Must ever support the religion successful a amended time to come," Biden said, adding: "I'm not going anywhere. I'm not kidding… The radical in South Carolina, convey you for keeping the faith. It's been the grant of my beingness to service arsenic your president." 

President Biden, archetypal woman Jill Biden and Rep. James Clyburn be a work astatine Royal Missionary Baptist Church successful North Charleston, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

"As I adjacent retired this travel with you, I'm conscionable arsenic passionate astir our enactment arsenic I was arsenic a 29-year-old kid erstwhile I got elected," Biden added. "I'm successful nary ways tired." 

HOW TO WATCH, STREAM TRUMP'S 2025 INAUGURATION ON JANUARY 20TH

Biden, who turned 82 successful November, indispensable beryllium backmost successful Washington, D.C., connected Monday for the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Trump. 

After a disastrous statement show against Trump implicit the summer, Biden suspended his re-election run amid superior concerns wrong the Democratic Party implicit his age and intelligence fitness. 

"It's been the grant of my beingness to service arsenic your president," President Biden told a congregation successful North Charleston, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Vice President Kamala Harris headed the Democratic summons successful Biden's spot and suffered a decisive decision by Trump successful November.

Biden was the oldest U.S. president sworn into bureau 4 years ago. Trump, 78, volition eclipse that grounds by a fewer months connected Monday. 

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Earlier Sunday, Biden granted clemency to an further 5 people, including pardoning governmental activistic and Black nationalist Marcus Garvey.