NEW YORK, July 15, 2026: Former President Joe Biden will publish Promise Me, America on Nov. 17, offering his account of his presidency and his decision to leave the 2024 race. Little, Brown and Company announced the release on Wednesday in New York.
The book will arrive two weeks after the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Biden, 83, said the memoir will explain the challenges his administration faced, the decisions he made, and his continued faith in the country. The memoir arrives after midterms, when control of Congress will be at stake.
Biden Sets November Release
Promise Me, America will cover Biden’s 2020 campaign, four years in office, and his abandoned bid for a second term. The publisher says the book will also address the economy, domestic legislation, foreign policy and the administration’s response to major crises.
Biden presented the project as a record of choices made during an unusually turbulent period. His term began during the COVID-19 pandemic, days after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Little, Brown has not disclosed the financial terms of the deal. The company said Biden plans to support the book with interviews and a promotional tour, but it has not released dates or locations.
The publisher outlines the book as a first-person account of efforts to strengthen U.S. alliances, support Ukraine and confront authoritarian governments. That description reflects Biden’s planned argument about his record, rather than an independent assessment of his presidency.
The title echoes Biden’s 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad. That book focused on the illness and death of his son, Beau Biden, and the family’s experiences during that period.
Book Will Revisit 2024 Exit
The most closely watched material may concern Biden’s final presidential campaign. He entered the 2024 race as the Democratic incumbent and prepared for a rematch against Donald Trump.
The campaign changed sharply after their June 27 debate in Atlanta. Biden spoke in a hoarse voice, lost his train of thought at times, and struggled to deliver a steady case for another term.
The debate deepened age concerns that had followed Biden throughout the campaign. Democratic lawmakers, donors, and strategists soon began pressing him to leave the race.
Biden initially rejected those calls. He held campaign events, gave interviews, and argued that Democratic voters had selected him through the primary process.
The pressure continued as party officials feared his candidacy could damage Democratic prospects in congressional races. Biden ended his reelection campaign on July 21, 2024, less than four months before Election Day.
He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and remained president until Jan. 20, 2025. Harris later secured the Democratic nomination but lost the general election to Trump.
The publisher says Biden will disclose his reasoning for stepping aside. The memoir could provide new details about discussions involving his family, senior aides, campaign officials, and Democratic leaders.
Presidency Gets a Personal Account
Biden took office on Jan. 20, 2021, after defeating Trump in the 2020 election. His administration quickly faced the pandemic, economic disruption, and political fallout from the Capitol attack.
Congress passed a major pandemic relief package during Biden’s first year. His administration later secured laws covering infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy, and prescription drug costs.
The book is expected to address the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The operation ended America’s longest war but drew criticism after the Taliban rapidly returned to power.
Foreign policy became a defining part of Biden’s term after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The United States supplied military and financial support to Kyiv and worked with allies to expand sanctions against Moscow.
Biden also managed the U.S. response to the war that followed Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. His administration supported Israel, pushed for humanitarian aid to Gaza, and sought the release of hostages.
At home, Biden faced voter frustration over inflation, immigration, and housing costs. He defended his agenda by pointing to job growth, infrastructure spending, and new manufacturing investment.
The memoir gives Biden a chance to frame those policies in his own words. It also allows him to address criticism of his age, communication style, and management of the White House.
Health Remains Part of the Story
Questions about Biden’s health will follow the book’s release. He became the oldest person to serve as president and faced sustained scrutiny over his stamina during his final years in office.
His office announced in May 2025 that his prostate cancer had spread to his bones. Doctors found that the disease was hormone-sensitive, allowing treatment to help manage its progression.
Biden addressed his condition while announcing the memoir. He said he had been spending time with his family, receiving treatment, and responding well.
The health update adds a personal dimension to the book campaign. It may renew scrutiny of how Biden and his advisers discussed his health during and after his presidency.
Biden will turn 84 on Nov. 20, three days after publication. The book will be available in print, digital, large-print, and audiobook formats.
No detailed interview schedule or tour calendar has been released. The next confirmed date is Nov. 17, when Promise Me, America is scheduled to reach readers.
