US President Joe Biden has told Americans it is time to pass the torch to a new generation - but he has also pledged to push for reform of the Supreme Court.
Speaking from the Oval Office in his first speech since announcing he would not stand for re-eelection, he said the time is now for fresh voices.
He warned there is no place in America for political violence after the shooting of former president Donald Trump.
And he pledged to keep working in the few months left of his presidency to advocate for changes to the Supreme Court, one of the key arms of American government.
Biden gave no details but sources in Washington have said he is keen to set term limits for justices and set up ethics rules.
The Court is currently conservative leaning with six of the nine Justices appointed by Republican presidents.
The Oval Office address marked his first public remarks since the 21 July announcement, which paved the way for Vice-President Kamala Harris to become the presumptive nominee.
Harris, who earlier this week secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, has already received an endorsement from the current president.
In the first 36 hours after Sunday's announcement that he was quitting the race, the fledgling Harris campaign raised more than US$100m - a record-breaking sum.
On Thursday, Biden was expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, as well as with the families of US hostages still being held in Gaza.
- RNZ/BBC
