President Joe Biden has made the unexpected decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. This move comes less than four months after he was declared the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee and just weeks following a poorly received debate performance.
Biden, 81, addressed the nation in a heartfelt letter, expressing the honor he felt in serving as President. He stated, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
He added that he would provide more details about his decision in a speech later this week. Biden also thanked Vice President Kamala Harris for her partnership and the American people for their trust.
Shortly after his announcement, Biden endorsed Vice President Harris to lead the party’s ticket. “Today, I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he wrote on social media. “Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Harris, in response, praised Biden’s decision and announced her intention to pursue the nomination. “With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else,” she said.
Harris emphasized her commitment to earning and winning the nomination, stating that she would continue to engage with Americans across the country.
Biden’s decision came after intense pressure from within the Democratic Party. Prominent party members and donors had called for his withdrawal following his underwhelming debate performance. Just hours before his announcement, Biden had tweeted about the importance of the upcoming election, suggesting that he might still be in the race.
Former President Donald Trump, Biden’s GOP rival, reacted swiftly, criticizing Biden’s fitness for office and his impact on the country. Trump also expressed confidence that he could defeat Harris, calling her “more liberal and less competent than Joe.”
