President Joe Biden has announced that he will withdraw as the Democratic candidate from the 2024 Presidential race, and will not seek re-election.
Biden's decision to step down follows a growing number of demands from Democratic members of Congress, donors and insiders for the 81-year old President to step aside. Concerns about Biden's candidacy escalated after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.
“I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden announced on X.
Biden thanked Vice President Kamala Harris "for being an extraordinary partner." In a later post on X, Biden endorsed Harris for the Democratic party's nomination, writing that "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 decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year."
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