In the final days of his presidency, President Joe Biden is expected to deliver two key addresses to the nation before Donald Trump’s inauguration, according to sources in the Biden administration speaking to NBC News.
Biden, who will soon return from an overseas trip, plans to give his first speech focused on foreign policy.
The second address, which will take place during his final days in the Oval Office, is expected to be a farewell speech, offering Biden a chance to reflect on his presidency and say goodbye to the American public.
As of now, the full content of both speeches remains under development, sources say.
Pardons and Domestic Priorities
Alongside these speeches, Biden is contemplating several significant actions in his final weeks in office.
Among these is the possibility of granting additional pardons for individuals who have received unusually harsh sentences. These potential pardons come after Biden made history in mid-December by commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history. Sources say Biden is also weighing pre-emptive pardons for individuals who may face political retribution from the incoming Trump administration.
Further, Biden is considering measures to combat domestic violent extremism in the U.S. and additional military funding—approximately $8 billion, according to the State Department—for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
January 6 Cases and Other Legal Actions
In addition to these moves, sources revealed that the Department of Justice is still deliberating whether to prosecute an additional 200 cases related to the January 6 Capitol riot in the final days of Biden's presidency.
This comes as Trump, who is poised to take office once again, is expected to issue a series of pardons for individuals convicted in connection with the events of that day.
Limited Action on Progressive Priorities
However, despite the urgency of these decisions, Biden has made it clear that he will not take action on some high-profile issues that have been the subject of progressive calls in recent months.
Protections for transgender student-athletes and student loan debt cancellation—two issues that have galvanized certain segments of the Democratic base—are not expected to be addressed before Trump’s inauguration, according to reports from the Associated Press.
Biden’s final months have drawn criticism from both ends of the political spectrum.
Progressive groups, including Justice Democrats, have condemned Biden’s approach, calling it a “lame-duck” presidency marked by a lack of leadership and inaction on key progressive policies. “There is a total vacuum,” a Democratic lawmaker close to senior officials said. In contrast, Republicans have blasted Biden’s final moves as politically motivated, arguing that he is using his remaining time to push through measures that run counter to the will of the voters.
Final Environmental and Energy Moves
On the environmental front, Biden is taking significant action to restrict domestic natural gas development.
Energy experts suggest these policies could create legal obstacles for Trump as he seeks to reverse many of Biden’s environmental regulations. Among these efforts, Biden is moving to restrict oil and gas drilling on over 625 million acres of U.S. coastal territory, a decision Trump has already vowed to reverse as soon as he takes office.
Trump sharply criticized Biden’s last-minute decisions in a radio interview, calling the move “ridiculous” and promising to reverse the bans immediately. “I’ll un-ban it immediately,” Trump told Hugh Hewitt. “What’s he doing? Why is he doing it?”
As Biden’s presidency nears its end, his actions in these final days reflect both his commitment to certain policy goals and the political turbulence of a divided nation.
With Trump’s second inauguration just weeks away, the nation is bracing for a sharp shift in direction—one that promises to undo many of Biden’s policies and reshape the political landscape for years to come.
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