In a surprising move, President Joe Biden announced on Sunday, July 21, that he is dropping his bid for re-election amid growing opposition within his own Democratic Party. Instead, he has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the party’s candidate against former President Donald Trump.
In a post on X, the social media platform, Biden, 81, stated that while he had intended to seek re-election, he believes it is in the best interest of the party and the country for him to step down and focus on fulfilling his duties as President for the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2025.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
The decision comes after a halting performance in a June 27 debate against Trump, 78, where Biden at times struggled to complete his thoughts. Additionally, over the past week, more than one in eight congressional Democrats, a total of 36 lawmakers, had publicly called on him to end his campaign, fearing he could cost the party not only the White House but also control of Congress.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said the party will soon address the next steps and the path forward for the nomination process. This is the first time in more than half a century that an incumbent U.S. president has given up his party’s nomination.
Biden has not been seen in public since testing positive for COVID-19 last week and isolating at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He has promised to address the nation this week, as he prepares to hand the reins of the Democratic Party to his trusted running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
