President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he will not seek reelection in the 2024 presidential race and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee.
This move dramatically reshapes the upcoming election, pitting Harris against Republican contender Donald Trump.
Citing pressure from within the Democratic Party and a poor debate performance, the 81-year-old Biden stated, “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 stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Biden plans to address the nation later this week to elaborate on his decision. The Democratic Party now faces the challenge of rallying behind Harris as their candidate for the November election.
Biden’s withdrawal marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has exited an election race so late, primarily due to concerns over his health and mental sharpness.
Following a disastrous debate performance on June 27, Biden resisted stepping down for weeks, even after numerous calls from influential figures within his party, including former President Barack Obama and actor George Clooney.
His decision came shortly after being diagnosed with COVID-19, which forced him off the campaign trail.
The announcement also follows a period of chaos in the U.S. election, highlighted by an assassination attempt on Trump at a campaign rally on July 13.
Biden joins a small group of U.S. presidents who chose not to run for a second term, the last being Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
Democrats are hopeful that Harris can succeed where Johnson’s replacement, Hubert Humphrey, failed by preventing Trump from returning to the Oval Office.
Harris, who has gained momentum in recent months with strong campaign performances, may be officially nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19.
As the first woman and the first person of Black and South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency, Harris brings a historic candidacy to the forefront.
Biden’s presidency, which began in January 2021 with a promise to heal the “soul of America” after Trump’s tumultuous tenure, has seen significant achievements such as a massive COVID-19 recovery plan and strong support for Ukraine.
However, it has also faced criticism over the handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and rising inflation.
Despite overcoming a reputation for verbal missteps, concerns about Biden’s age persisted, contributing to his decision to step down.
His endorsement of Harris sets the stage for a historic and closely watched election battle in 2024.
