President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race, ending his re-election campaign following a problematic debate with Donald Trump that cast doubts on his capability just months before the election.
This decision follows mounting pressure from Democratic allies who urged Biden to step down after the June 27 debate, where the 81-year-old president struggled with his responses and failed to address many of Trump’s false statements.
Important updates on this rapidly developing story:
Biden intends to complete his term, which concludes at noon on January 20, 2025.
Vice President Kamala Harris. (Credit: Whitehouse.gov)“Serving as your President has been the greatest honor of my life. Although I planned to run for reelection, I believe stepping aside is in the best interest of my party and the country. I will focus solely on fulfilling my duties for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a letter posted on his X account.
He almost immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run for the party’s nomination at the August convention in Chicago.
“Today, I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee for our party this year,” Biden wrote on social media.
He called selecting Harris as VP “ the best decision I’ve made,” and he called on Democrats to “come together and beat Trump.”
