By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former United States President Joe Biden is set to release a new memoir detailing his four years in the White House, including his decision to seek re-election in 2024 and his eventual withdrawal from the presidential race.
The book, titled Promise Me, America, is scheduled for publication on November 17, 2026, by Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
Biden announced the memoir on July 15, 2026, through a video message, describing it as a personal account of his presidency, the challenges his administration faced and the decisions he made while leading the United States.
According to the former president, the book will examine his administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to rebuild the American economy, the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, the strengthening of NATO and support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
One of the major subjects expected to attract attention is Biden’s decision to pursue a second presidential term despite growing concerns about his age and political standing, before eventually withdrawing from the 2024 race.
His withdrawal paved the way for then-Vice President Kamala Harris to emerge as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate against Republican candidate Donald Trump, who subsequently won the election.
The memoir is expected to offer Biden’s personal explanation of the events surrounding his re-election campaign and the circumstances that led him to step aside.
In a fresh development, Biden disclosed on Sunday, November 8, that his ongoing battle with cancer would limit the number of public appearances and interviews he could undertake to promote the book.
In a message shared on social media, the former president said his doctors remained encouraged by his response to treatment but acknowledged that his condition sometimes slowed him down.
He expressed hope that readers would find the memoir meaningful despite his inability to participate in as many promotional conversations as initially planned.
“Some days are better than others. It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down,” Biden said.
He added that the book covered his years as president, the challenges his administration faced and the reasons behind the decisions he made.
Biden disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, months after leaving office. His son, Hunter Biden, later told the BBC in August 2026 that the disease had spread to his bones and further.
Promise Me, America will be Biden’s third published book, following Promises to Keep (2007) and Promise Me, Dad (2017), which focused partly on the illness and death of his son, Beau Biden.
The 480-page memoir will be released two weeks after the November 2026 US midterm elections.
With its focus on Biden’s presidency and his departure from the 2024 presidential race, the publication is expected to renew discussions about his administration, his political legacy and the events that shaped the last US presidential election.
