In a dramatic turn of events, President Joe Biden has announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. The decision, revealed in a letter on social media platform X, follows weeks of mounting pressure and concerns over Biden’s fitness for a second term.
Biden, who is 81, cited the best interests of his party and the country in his announcement. “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,” he wrote. “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.”
The pressure on Biden to reconsider his re-election bid intensified after a debate with Donald Trump on June 27, where the President appeared physically and cognitively drained. His performance, marked by rambling responses and difficulty in countering Trump’s assertions, fueled doubts about his capacity to endure another four years in office.
Despite efforts to regain his footing with a robust speech at a campaign rally and subsequent public appearances, Biden’s frequent displays of fatigue further exacerbated concerns. High-profile Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, began to offer more ambiguous responses regarding his candidacy, reflecting the growing unease within the party.
A particularly challenging moment occurred during a summit commemorating NATO’s 75th anniversary, where Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” and his own Vice President, Kamala Harris, as “Vice President Trump.” These errors underscored the President’s struggles and heightened calls for his withdrawal.
Celebrity donor George Clooney’s op-ed in the New York Times also added to the pressure. “The one battle Biden cannot win is the fight against time,” Clooney wrote. “It’s devastating to say it, but the Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago at the fundraiser was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010. He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020.”
Biden’s announcement follows a series of setbacks, including a COVID-19 diagnosis and a strikingly unwell appearance in a pre-recorded interview with Black Entertainment Television. These incidents further weakened his standing and accelerated the push for a new nominee.
The Democratic Party now faces the task of selecting Biden’s successor. While Vice President Harris is the frontrunner, with improving poll numbers and increased campaign activity, other potential candidates such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have also been suggested.
As the party gears up for its convention in Chicago this September, the process for confirming Harris or another nominee remains to be seen. For now, the focus shifts to uniting the party and preparing for a critical election against a resurgent Trump.
What’s Next?
The Democratic convention will play a crucial role in determining the party’s path forward. With Biden stepping aside, the spotlight is on Harris to potentially become the first woman President of the United States. However, the possibility of other candidates entering the fray cannot be ruled out, setting the stage for a potentially contentious nomination process.
