President Joe Biden has announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket.
This unprecedented move comes just four months before the November election against Donald Trump, whom Biden has called an existential threat to US democracy.
“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,” Biden said in a letter.
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… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Biden thanked Harris in his letter and later endorsed her as the Democratic nominee in a tweet, emphasizing the need for Democrats to unite against Trump.
The announcement followed weeks of pressure from Democratic leaders, organisers, and donors who doubted Biden's chances of victory. An ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 60% of Democrats believed he should end his run, and nearly 76% would be satisfied with Harris as the nominee.
Trump responded by criticising Biden's fitness for office and asserting that his presidency was achieved through deceit. Trump also stated he believed it would be easier to defeat Harris than Biden.
Harris's nomination is not automatic, with potential challenges from other Democrats like Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. The Democratic National Committee has promised a transparent process to select a candidate.
Biden's decision comes after a tumultuous few weeks in American politics, including his own health issues and the narrow survival of Trump from an assassination attempt. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for August 19 in Chicago, where the party will finalise its nominee and strategy for the November election.