President Biden Holds Candlelight Vigil at White House to Mourn the 500,000 American Lives Lost to COVID-19

President Biden is marking a grim moment in the fight against COVID-19.

The President of the United States spoke to the nation from the White House on Monday (February 22) after it was confirmed that 500,000 Americans have now passed away because of the virus.

After speaking to the nation, Biden was joined by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff for a candlelight vigil outside of the White House.

“We must end the politics and misinformation that’s divided families, communities and the country,” Biden said during his speech. “It’s cost too many lives already. It’s not Democrats and Republicans who are dying from the virus. It’s our fellow Americans. It’s our neighbors, our friends, our mothers, our fathers, our sons, our daughters, husbands, wives. We have to fight this together as one people, as the United States of America. That’s the only way we’re going to beat this virus, I promise you.”

Biden opened up about the tragedies he’s suffered while comforting those who have lost loved ones to the virus.

“For the loved ones left behind: I know all too well. I know what it’s like to not be there when it happens. I know what it’s like when you are there holding their hands, there’s a look in their eye and they slip away,” he said. For those that don’t know, Biden’s first wife and infant daughter died in a car crash and his son Beau died in 2015 after a battle with brain cancer.

Watch the speech below.