Former President Joe Biden has announced that his memoir, “Promise Me, America,” will be released after this year’s U.S. midterm elections, a timing that could limit the book’s impact on Democrats’ fall campaign.
The book, titled “Promise Me, America,” is scheduled for release on Nov. 17, according to publisher Little, Brown and Company.
Biden announced the memoir in a roughly two-minute video statement, describing it as a personal account of decisions made during his presidency and his choice to pursue reelection before ultimately stepping aside. In the video, he pointed to subjects he says the book will cover, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, NATO, and U.S. support for Ukraine.
In the same video, Biden also referred to his health, saying he has been diagnosed with cancer and is receiving treatment.
The book’s publication date falls about two weeks after the November midterm elections, a schedule that has prompted speculation that Democrats may prefer to keep the campaign focused on President Donald Trump and congressional races rather than Biden’s legacy.
The announcement also comes as Jill Biden promotes her own memoir, “View from the East Wing,” published in June. In that book, she described her reaction to Joe Biden’s June 2024 debate performance, writing that she feared he was having a stroke.
Conservative commentators and other critics mocked the memoir online following the announcement.