In an unexpected turn of events, President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee. This dramatic move reshapes an already extraordinary race for the White House.
Biden, 81, stated that serving as president has been the “greatest honor of my life.” His decision to step aside comes after weeks of mounting pressure following a poorly received television debate performance against former President Donald Trump, which raised concerns about his age and health.
“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,” Biden said in a letter posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The president issued this statement while recovering from COVID-19 at his beach house in Delaware. He mentioned plans to address the nation later in the week to elaborate on his decision not to pursue a second term.
First Lady Jill Biden reacted by reposting his statement with two heart emojis. Granddaughter Naomi Biden expressed pride in her grandfather, writing on X, “I am nothing but proud today of my Pop, our President.”
Biden’s withdrawal injects fresh uncertainty into the Democratic Party as the November 5 election rapidly approaches, leaving no automatic successor. Nonetheless, it presents an opportunity to rejuvenate a demoralized party.
In a swift move, Biden endorsed Harris, 59, who made history as the first Black and South Asian woman to serve as vice president. She will now aim to become the first female commander-in-chief.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” Biden declared on X. “Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Former Democratic President Barack Obama, still a highly influential figure, warned of “uncharted waters” ahead but expressed confidence that “an outstanding nominee” would emerge.
Republican figures, led by former President Trump, quickly responded to Biden’s announcement. Trump criticized Biden, claiming that if he was not “fit to run” for president, he was also not “fit to serve.”
This stunning development sets the stage for a high-stakes battle in the 2024 presidential election, with Kamala Harris now at the forefront of the Democratic campaign against the Republican nominee.