In an unprecedented move, US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he would not seek re-election, following mounting pressure from fellow Democrats who questioned his mental fitness and ability to beat Donald Trump in the upcoming election. The decision paves the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to run as the party's candidate, making her the first Black woman to do so in the country's history.
Biden, who turned 81 this year, expressed his intention to remain in his role as president and commander-in-chief until his term ends in January 2025. In a post on X, Biden wrote, "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."
Although his initial statement did not include an endorsement of Harris, he followed up a few minutes later with an expression of support. Harris, 59, would become the first Black woman to run at the top of a major-party ticket in the country's history if she wins the nomination.
Former President Trump, the Republican candidate in the Nov. 5 election, told CNN on Sunday that he believed Harris would be easier to defeat. However, Trump's confidence may be misplaced, given the widespread support Harris has received from Democratic lawmakers and party officials.
Biden's decision to step down came after a change of heart, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The president told allies that as of Saturday night, he planned to stay in the race before changing his mind on Sunday afternoon. "Last night, the message was proceed with everything, full speed ahead," a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "At around 1:45 p.m. today: the president told his senior team that he had changed his mind." He announced his decision on social media within minutes.
Biden's announcement follows a wave of public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials to quit the race after his poor performance in the June 27 televised debate against Trump. Biden's failure at times to complete clear sentences took the public spotlight away from Trump's false statements and instead raised questions surrounding Biden's fitness for another 4-year term.
Despite Biden's historic move, the Democratic Party faces an unprecedented gamble with less than four months to wage a campaign. Harris's nomination would represent a significant milestone for the party, but it remains to be seen whether she can win over voters and secure the presidency.
Biden's departure sets up a stark new contrast between the Democrats' presumptive new nominee and Trump, who is two decades her senior and faces two outstanding criminal prosecutions related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election result. He is due to be sentenced in New York in September on a conviction for trying to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star.
Biden's decision to step down comes after a difficult few months for the president. Earlier this year, facing little opposition, Biden easily won the Democratic Party's primary race to pick its presidential candidate, despite voter concerns about his age. However, his staunch support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza eroded support among some in his own party, particularly young, progressive Democrats and voters of color.
Many Black voters say Biden has not done enough for them, and enthusiasm among Democrats overall for a second Biden term had been low. Even before the debate with Trump, Biden was trailing the Republican in some national polls and in the battleground states he would have needed to win to prevail on Nov. 5.
Harris, who was tasked with reaching out to those voters in recent months, now faces the challenge of winning over the Democratic Party and securing the nomination. Unless the party changes the rules, delegates pledged to Biden would enter the convention uncommitted, leaving them to vote on his successor. The Democrats also have a system of superdelegates, unpledged senior party officials and elected leaders whose support is limited on the first ballot but who could play a decisive role in subsequent rounds.
Biden's departure marks the end of an era for the Democratic Party, but it also represents a new beginning. With Harris as the presumptive nominee, the party has the opportunity to make history and elect the first Black and Asian American woman to the White House.
27 June Presidential debate where Biden’s often-incoherent answers leave many wondering about his fitness for office.
28 June Biden hopes to end doubts with a North Carolina campaign speech where he says: “I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth.”
2 July Lloyd Doggett is the first Democratic Representative to call for Biden to step aside – and is soon joined by others.
5 July In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopolous, Biden says only the “Lord Almighty” could persuade him to stand down and he will not take a cognitive test.
8 July After a weekend of in-party disagreement, Biden tells news show Morning Joe “I am not going anywhere” and sends Democrats a long letter pleading for unity.
10 July Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells Morning Joe “it's up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” making it clear the matter is not settled. George Clooney calls for him to quit in an op-ed, and Peter Welch becomes the first Democratic senator to demand he withdraws.
11 July At the end of a Nato summit in Washington, Biden refers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” and Vice-President Harris as Trump.
13 July The spotlight briefly moves off Biden as Trump is shot in the ear in an attempted assassination.
17 July Biden tests positive for Covid and pauses campaigning to quarantine. Top Democrat Adam Schiff calls on Biden to “pass the torch.” Other lawmakers take up the saying.
18 July A clip goes viral of Biden forgetting Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s name in an interview where he also says he’d drop out if a “medical condition emerged.” Reports leak of congressional leaders talking about leaving the race with Obama saying he has low chances of winning.
19 July Biden announces he will return to the campaign trail the next week. The number of House Democrats demanding his withdrawal hits 30 and major donors turn up the heat.
20 July Trump slams Democrats for not knowing who their nominee is.
Today In a statement, Biden leaves the presidential race. He endorses Vice-President Kamala Harris to take the top of the ticket.
