Biden Withdraws from 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses Harris

Biden’s Shocking Exit: “In the Best Interest of the Country”

Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race, saying it is “in the best interest of my party and the country.” The announcement follows months of speculation about his age and fitness to serve another four years, along with several high-profile gaffes and a poor debate performance.

In a significant development, the US President announced he will not seek a second term.

He has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, urging Democrats to support her campaign.

In a letter addressed to “my fellow Americans,” Biden said serving as President has been the “greatest honor of my life.”

“While it has been my intention to seek re-election, 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,” he stated.

He endorsed Harris as the Democratic nominee, saying, “Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”

Biden made the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said he would address the nation later this week to provide more details.

“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me re-elected,” he said.

“I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.”

Jill Biden reposted the statement on X with a love heart.

Harris, who many see as the frontrunner to replace Biden, said she is “honored” to have the President’s endorsement.

“My intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she added.

She thanked Biden for his “extraordinary leadership” and for making a “selfless and patriotic act” by stepping aside.

“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party – and unite our nation – to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” she said.

“We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”

Biden plans to serve out his term, which ends at noon on 20 January 2025. However, questions arise about whether he should also resign from the presidency.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has called on him to resign, saying, “If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President.”

A Sudden Decision After Long Speculation

The announcement comes after months of speculation about Biden’s age and fitness to serve another four years.

Democrats described his debate with Trump as an “unmitigated disaster” and “a slow-motion car crash” after he appeared incoherent and stumbled over his words.

Biden, 81, had insisted he was best placed to defeat Trump but faced calls from within his own party to step aside.

As of Saturday night, he planned to stay in the race, but he told senior staff on Sunday afternoon he was withdrawing, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The decision surprised many White House staff, with several expressing shock that the President made the announcement while recovering from COVID-19 at his Delaware home.

He spoke with Harris several times on Sunday ahead of the announcement, a source familiar with the conversation said.

A source close to Biden recently admitted, “we’re close to the end,” after Barack Obama reportedly shared concerns about Biden’s re-election bid.

Trump’s Response to Biden’s Withdrawal

Donald Trump reacted to the news, telling NBC News that Biden “should never have been” in the race.

• 
  Celebrities

  Céline Dion: A Powerful Journey of Perseverance and Resilience
• 
  Opinion

  Why Does Our Economic Stability Seem So Tied to Petrol?
• 
  Real Estate

  3 Interior Design Mistakes You Should Never Make

“Joe Biden is the worst president in the history of the United States by far,” he said.

“There has never been a president who has done such damage to our country.”

Trump said Harris would be easier to defeat in the race for the White House than Biden.

In a phone call with CNN, Trump said he did not know who he would face but suggested that Harris would not pose a bigger problem than Biden.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said,

“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve – And never was!”

Biden Endorses Kamala Harris

Attention now turns to who will succeed Biden, with the selection likely happening at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Shortly after announcing his withdrawal, Biden backed Harris to take his place as the Democratic Party’s nominee.

He thanked her for being “an extraordinary partner” and endorsed her candidacy.

“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he said on X.

Harris appears to be the natural successor, partly because she can directly access the Biden campaign’s funds according to federal campaign finance rules.

Biden’s backing clears the way for her, but a smooth transition is not guaranteed.

Other candidates may challenge Harris for the nomination, and the party may need to adjust its rules to ensure her nomination.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison promised a “transparent and orderly process” in selecting the next candidate.

He said the Democrats would share more about “next steps and a path forward” soon, adding, “The work that we must do now, while unprecedented, is clear.”

Obama Thanks Biden but Does Not Endorse Harris

Barack Obama praised Biden but did not endorse Harris to lead the Democratic Party.

In a statement, Obama said,

“We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”

He called Biden one of “America’s most consequential presidents” and a “dear friend and partner.”

As the Democratic Party navigates this unexpected turn, all eyes will be on Harris and the path forward to the 2024 election.