U.S. President Joe Biden has ended his reelection campaign following a loss of confidence among fellow Democrats regarding his mental acuity and ability to defeat Donald Trump. This unexpected decision leaves the presidential race in uncharted territory.
Biden made the announcement on X, stating, “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.” He confirmed he will remain in his role as president and commander-in-chief until his term concludes in January 2025 and plans to address the nation this week.
By withdrawing his reelection bid, Biden clears the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to potentially run at the top of the ticket, making her the first Black woman to do so in U.S. history. However, Biden did not mention Harris in his announcement, leaving it unclear whether other senior Democrats would challenge her for the party’s nomination or if the party would open the field for other candidates.
Biden’s decision follows significant pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials to withdraw after a poor performance in a recent televised debate against Republican rival Donald Trump.