US President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he is dropping out of his reelection battle with Donald Trump, a historic move that plunges the already turbulent 2024 White House race into uncharted territory.
"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 focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden said in a letter posted on X.
Biden said he would "speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision".
The Democratic Party now faces chaos as it scrambles to find a new candidate for the November election, with Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as the frontrunner. His initial statement did not include an endorsement of Harris, but a few minutes later, he followed up with an expression of support.
Biden's decision follows weeks of pressure, beginning with a disastrous debate performance that raised concerns about his health. This makes Biden the first president in US history to withdraw so late in an election race due to concerns over his mental acuity and health.
Despite resisting calls to step down for more than three weeks, Biden's fate was sealed after influential voices within his party, from actor George Clooney to former president Barack Obama, urged him to reconsider. His diagnosis with Covid, which forced him off the campaign trail, further compounded the situation.
Biden's decision caps a tense and chaotic period in US politics, marked by Trump's survival of an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13. Biden joins a small group of US presidents who decided not to seek a second term, the last being Lyndon Johnson in 1968.
Democrats are now counting on Harris to prevent Trump from making a sensational comeback to the Oval Office. Harris, who struggled in her initial years as vice president, has recently emerged as a strong campaigner on key issues such as abortion rights. Her life story as the first woman and the first person of Black and South Asian origin to hold the vice presidency has also resonated with voters.
Harris is set to be nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19, in what promises to be a dramatic and heartrending moment for Biden.
Biden took office in January 2021 pledging to heal the "soul of America" after four turbulent years under Trump and the January 6 Capitol assault by Trump's supporters. He pushed through significant policies, including a massive COVID recovery plan and a green industry scheme, and received praise for his strong support for Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
However, his tenure faced criticism over the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and persistent inflation, contributing to an image of frailty played up by Republicans.
Former President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Joe Biden’s decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday and expressed their full support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
In a joint statement, the Clintons lauded Biden's "extraordinary career of service" and said they were "honored" to back Harris as the party's new candidate. They emphasised their commitment to supporting her campaign.
The Clintons also voiced their deep concern about the possibility of a second term for Donald Trump, describing his promises as threatening to democratic values, stating, "Nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term. He has promised to be a dictator on day one."
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