Joe Biden Withdraws from 2024 US Presidential Election Race, According to US News
Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race.
In a surprising turn of events, the US president announced that he will not be running for a second term.
He has endorsed Kamala Harris and encouraged Democrats to support her campaign as he exits the race.
In a letter addressed to “my fellow Americans,” Mr. Biden expressed that serving as president had been the “greatest honor of my life.”
“While it was my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is best for my party and the country for me to step down and focus on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
He has thrown his support behind Mrs. Harris as the Democratic nominee, stating: “Democrats – it’s time to unite and defeat Trump.”
Follow live: Reaction as Biden exits the race
Pic: NBC
Mr. Biden made the announcement in a statement posted to X, indicating that he will provide further details about his decision in an upcoming address to the nation.
“For now, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked hard to support my re-election.
“I want to acknowledge Vice President Kamala Harris for her exceptional partnership in this endeavor. And I want to sincerely thank the American people for their faith and trust in me.
“I remain steadfast in my belief that there is nothing America cannot achieve when we work together. We must always remember that we are the United States of America.”
Mr. Biden’s wife Jill Biden shared the statement on X with a heart emoji.
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Joe Biden pulls out of 2024 US election
Mr. Biden intends to complete his term in office, which ends on 20 January 2025.
A sudden decision after long speculation
This significant development follows months of speculation about Mr. Biden’s age and ability to serve another four years – amidst several notable mistakes and a poor performance in a debate.
Mr. Biden, 81, had previously argued that he was the best candidate to defeat Mr. Trump in the upcoming election but faced calls from within his party to step down.
As of Saturday night, he had planned to continue in the race, but informed senior staff on Sunday afternoon that he was withdrawing, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The announcement caught many White House staff by surprise, with several expressing shock that the president made the decision while recovering from COVID at his Delaware home.
He spoke with Mrs. Harris earlier today before making the announcement, as per a source familiar with the conversation.
A source close to the president recently acknowledged “we’re close to the end” after Barack Obama, the former president who selected Mr. Biden as his vice-president during his two terms in office, reportedly expressed concerns about his ally’s re-election bid.
Read more:
As Joe Biden steps aside, who will replace him?
A look at Kamala Harris – the favored Biden successor
Pic: Reuters
Trump responds to rival withdrawing
Donald Trump has responded to the news, telling Sky News’ US partner NBC News that Mr. Biden “never should have been” in the race.
“Joe Biden is, by far, the worst president in the history of the United States,” he stated.
“No president has done as much harm to our country as he has. From losing energy independence to allowing millions of illegal immigrants in.”
He mentioned that Mrs. Harris would be a simpler opponent to defeat in the race for the presidency compared to Mr. Biden.
In a call with CNN after Mr. Biden’s announcement, Mr. Trump mentioned that he was uncertain about his opponent but indicated that the Vice President would not pose a greater challenge than the current president.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, he asserted: “Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve – And never was!”
Mr. Trump alleged that Biden “acquired” the presidency “through lies, Fake News, and by staying in his Basement.”
Biden endorses Kamala Harris
Attention will now turn to who will succeed Mr. Biden, with the decision likely to be made at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Shortly after announcing his withdrawal, Mr. Biden supported his vice president Kamala Harris to take his place as the Democratic Party’s nominee for the presidency.
He commended her for being “an extraordinary partner” and endorsed her for the party’s nomination in a statement on X, stating: “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”
She is seen as the natural successor, largely due to her ability to access the funds from the Biden campaign under federal campaign finance rules.
While Mr. Biden’s endorsement paves the way for her, a seamless transition is not guaranteed.
It remains to be seen if other candidates may challenge Mrs. Harris for the nomination, or if the party will need to adjust its rules to ensure a smooth nomination on the convention floor.
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Could Kamala Harris be the next US president?
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