President Joe Biden has decided to end his candidacy for re-election, stating, “it is in the best interest of my party and the country.” His announcement comes four months before Americans head to the polls, significantly altering the race for the White House.
Biden faced weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats following a faltering debate performance against Republican Donald Trump at the end of June. On Sunday evening, after making his announcement, President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race.
In a letter posted on his social media account, Biden expressed that serving as president had been the greatest honor of his life. He wrote, “And 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 to focus solely on fulfilling the duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
Calls for Biden to withdraw from the race intensified after his June debate performance, where critics noted his incoherence and weak voice, which his party attributed to a cold. Concerns grew among congressional Democrats that his campaign might jeopardize their own re-election chances in November. A number of senators also urged him to withdraw.
In his statement, Biden thanked Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her an “extraordinary partner.” He added, “And let me express my heartfelt appreciation for the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me. I believe today and always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”
Biden plans to address the nation on the matter next week. After being diagnosed with COVID-19, he returned to his home in Delaware last week but expressed his eagerness to “get back on the campaign trail next week.”
Previously, Biden asserted that only the “Lord Almighty” could make him withdraw, though he later mentioned he would consider stepping down if he had a health condition. On his Truth Social platform, Republican nominee Donald Trump responded, claiming that Joe Biden was “not fit to run for President.”
