Joe Biden reveals details of 2024 election exit in explosive new memoir 'Promise Me, America'

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has officially announced the upcoming release of his post-presidential memoir, titled Promise Me, America.

Scheduled to hit shelves on November 17, 2026, the book is expected to retail at $42 (approximately Sh5,426) and is already available for preorder.

The publisher, Little, Brown and Company, secured the rights to the memoir following reports last year that its parent company, Hachette Book Group, paid an advance of Sh1.3 billion ($10 million) for the deal.

Biden accompanied the announcement with a short promotional video addressing his life since leaving the White House.

I’ve written a book about my time as President. It’s called PROMISE ME, AMERICA. It’s coming out November 17th and is available for preorder now. https://t.co/uMINr9efxS@littlebrown pic.twitter.com/yzWfZyD31A

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 15, 2026

He noted that people often ask what he has been doing with his time, sharing that he has been focusing on family while writing about his presidency.

"I have written a book about my time as the president," the 83-year-old said.

The book promises to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the major domestic and international crises of his administration.

According to the former president, the text will cover his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to rebuild the economy, and his work to protect democratic institutions following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

He also writes about high-stakes foreign policy decisions, including ending the war in Afghanistan, strengthening the NATO alliance, and supporting Ukraine.

The memoir will address the highly scrutinised end of his 2024 reelection campaign.

Biden explained that the book will detail the internal reasoning behind his initial decision to run for a second term and his eventual choice to step aside.

This section of the memoir is anticipated to draw significant scrutiny, especially given how other key figures have recently framed the event.

In her own memoir, View from the East Wing, former First Lady Jill Biden described her husband's withdrawal as a painful decision forced by mounting pressure from fellow Democrats.

Conversely, in her book 107 Days, Kamala Harris offered a sharper critique, arguing that the party’s prolonged deference to Biden's personal decision-making was reckless given the stakes of the election.

Beyond politics, Biden used the book announcement to share an update on his ongoing battle with stage 4 prostate cancer.

He reassured supporters that his treatment has been going well, expressing his gratitude for the prayers and well-wishes he has received.

The release of Promise Me, America comes at a politically sensitive time, falling just two weeks after the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. 

Meanwhile, Biden’s previous work continues to navigate legal channels.

His 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad, has re-entered the news cycle due to an ongoing court case in which a federal judge ordered the Department of Justice to turn over audio tapes related to the book to the Heritage Foundation.

Biden is expected to embark on a high-profile media tour to promote the new book, which represents his fourth published volume.