President Joe Biden, 81, abruptly announced that he will end his reelection bid mere weeks after debating with former President Donald Trump.
“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 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. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” said President Biden on social media.
Hours before the announcement, a message on President Biden’s X account stated that “It’s a miracle, folks. Donald told the truth for once. It’s the most important election of our lifetimes. And I will win it.”
However, pressure for President Biden to drop out of the race continued to mount amid questions about his age after a presidential debate with former President Trump on June 27, 2024, a COVID-19 diagnosis, and pressure from his own party to step down.
President Biden referred to the former president’s statement that “This is going to be the most important election in the history of our country.”
In a twist of events, President Biden released a written announcement recapping progress that has been made in the United States over the past three and a half years as a Nation, including lowering prescription drug costs for seniors; expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans; providing critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances; passing the first gun safety law in 30 years; appointing the first African American woman to the Supreme Court; overcoming a pandemic; and overcoming “the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.”
He added, “It has been the greatest honor of my life, to serve as your President 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 my duties as president for the remainder of my term. I will speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision.”
Former President Trump responded to President Biden’s announcement on social media.
“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve—And never was! He only attained the position of President by lies, Fake News, and not leaving his Basement. All those around him, including his Doctor, and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being president and he wasn’t– And now, look what he’s done to our Country, with millions of people coming across our Border, totally unchecked and unvetted, many from prisons, mental institutions, and record numbers of terrorists,” he said.
Trump closed with his well-known “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” slogan.
On the other hand, Vice President Harris thanked President Biden on social media for his “extraordinary leadership,” on behalf of the American people.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Vice President also stated on X.
Former President Barack Obama released sentiments on social media crediting President Biden with numerous accomplishments, while stating that the current President “pointed us away from four years of chaos, falsehood, and division that characterized Donald Trump’s administration.”
President Biden’s term ends on Jan. 20, 2025.