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Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., born on November 20, 1942, is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 46th President of the United States from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025. Before becoming President, he served as the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017 and was a long-serving U.S. Senator from Delaware between 1973 and 2009. Biden announced in 2024 that he would not seek a second term, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
Early Life and EducationJoe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Delaware with his family. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in 1965, followed by a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. He worked as an attorney before entering politics.
Political Career: Senate and Vice Presidency- At age 29, Biden became one of the youngest individuals ever elected to the U.S. Senate. During his long Senate tenure, he chaired key committees such as the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. He was instrumental in the passage of several landmark bills, including the Violence Against Women Act.
- In 2008, he was selected as Barack Obama’s running mate and went on to serve two terms as Vice President of the United States, where he played a significant role in foreign policy and economic recovery efforts after the 2008 financial crisis.
- Joe Biden took office as the 46th President of the United States on January 20, 2021, becoming the oldest person to ever assume the presidency. His administration focused on combating the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, infrastructure development, and addressing climate change. Key legislative wins included the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- By mid-2024, Biden faced growing concerns over his age and leadership effectiveness. Following a poor debate performance and mounting pressure from within his party, he announced his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Joe Biden married Neilia Hunter in 1966. Tragically, Neilia and their infant daughter Naomi were killed in a car accident in 1972. He later married Jill Jacobs in 1977, a lifelong educator. Together, they have a daughter, Ashley Biden. His son Beau Biden, a former Delaware Attorney General, died of brain cancer in 2015. His other son, Hunter Biden, has been involved in business and has faced legal and personal challenges in the public eye.
- How Biden pushed Israel to calibrate its strikes on Iran
Such a massive Iranian attack had the potential to trigger a sharp, rapid Israeli response that, weeks before the U.S. presidential election, could push the Middle East closer to an all-out regional conflagration, officials feared.
- From crypto to vaping: Donald Trump's huge promises to big corporates ahead of US elections
Trump’s main fund-raising committee has reportedly receiving more than $8.2 million in cryptocurrency donations till September.
- Israel informed US before conducting strikes on Iran in response to missile attacks: Report
The escalation follows a series of regional hostilities, with Iran's allied group Hezbollah joining forces against Israel in support of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched an assault on Israel earlier in October.
- Israel launches precision strikes on ‘strategic assets' deep inside Iran
The White House has backed Israel's strikes, confirming prior notification from Tel Aviv and stating that US forces were not involved.
- Housing on the ballot: Harris, Trump push different plans for tackling housing affordability crisis
The biggest single reason homeownership is out of reach for many is there aren’t nearly enough homes for sale to balance out the market between buyers and sellers.
- Joe Biden says Donald Trump should be locked up 'politically'
"We got to lock him up," Biden said to applause at a Democratic campaign office in Concord, New Hampshire. "Politically lock him up. Lock him out. That's what we have to do," he said.
- Harris holds 46%-43% lead over Trump amid voter gloom, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
Both polls showed Harris with a lead within the margin of error, with the latest poll showing her ahead just 2 percentage points when using unrounded figures.
- Biden administration races to shell out billions for clean energy as election nears
Biden wants to establish a legacy for climate action that includes locking in a trajectory for reducing the nation's planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
- When & how will Israel hit back at Iran? US President Joe Biden 'has a good idea'
President Biden said he has an understanding of how and when Israel was going to retaliate against missile attacks by Iran.
- As Biden meets with European allies, the possibility of another Trump term hangs over their talks
Biden did not want his term to end without visiting the German capital, after having been to visit other key allies such as Japan, South Korea, France, India, the United Kingdom, Poland and Ukraine.
- Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Publicly, US officials say the seemingly opposing moves fit within longstanding policies that aim to both ensure Israel's defense and to advocate for protection of civilians in the year-old war in Gaza
- Israel assures US it won't strike Iranian nuclear or oil sites, US officials say
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that “we listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interests.”
- Netanyahu told US that Israel will strike Iranian military targets, not nuclear or oil ones: Report
According to the report, during Biden and Netanyahu’s phone call on Wednesday, their first in nearly two months, Netanyahu said he planned to target military infrastructure in Iran.
- Joe Biden to visit Germany on Oct 18: Report
The report said Biden's visit would not have the character of a formal state visit but would be slimmed down to attend to joint work in progress.
- Biden, Netanyahu speak with focus on Israeli plans for retaliation against Iran
The call, under way late Wednesday morning U.S. time, was the leaders' first known chat since August and coincided with a sharp escalation of Israel's conflict with both Iran and Iran-backed Hezbollah with no sign of an imminent ceasefire deal to end the conflict with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza.
- Israel-Hezbollah War Updates: Biden, Harris spoke with Israel's Netanyahu, says White House
Israel-Hezbollah War Updates: This incident comes as Israel intensifies its ground offensive against Hezbollah, indicating a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two sides.
- Over 6 mn to be evacuated as Florida braces for Hurricane Milton days after Helene
Revving up close on the heels of Hurricane Helene, Milton is projected to make a landfall by Wednesday US time as a Category 3 hurricane along the west coast of Tampa, Florida
- Biden pledged to campaign hard for Harris. So far, he's been mostly a no-show
Biden did campaign with Vice President Kamala Harris on Labor Day, but he largely has been a campaign no-show since. Beyond that, sometimes his official events push hers to the background.
- How Biden's casual remarks sparked global concerns, ripples in markets amid Iran-Israel tensions
The President’s comments came after Iran launched at least 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, the latest in a series of rapidly escalating attacks
- Biden says he does not believe there will be 'all-out war' in Middle East
Asked how confident he was that such a war can be averted, he paused and told reporters: "How confident are you it’s not going to rain? Look, I don’t believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it.”
