U.S. President Joe Biden has heeded calls to withdraw his re-election bid US President and announced that he will end his candidacy for re-election, saying “it is in the best interest of my party and the country”.,
This expected move has thrust this year’s already high-wire race for the White House into an uncertain territory.
The announcement on Sunday by the oldest sitting president in the United States’ history came amid mounting pressure from his fellow Democrats, with more than 30 Congress members publicly pushing for his exit.
Biden’s doctor dismisses White House neurologist visit concerns
Other high-profile figures — including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — were reported to be encouraging Biden to step down behind the scenes.
The backlash came after Biden, 81, delivered an unsteady performance at the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season as he lost his train of thought and struggled to articulate basic talking points.
The 46th US president’s departure from the race leaves the Democratic Party in an unprecedented situation, with only a month until the Democratic National Convention and less than four months until the November 5 election.
Whoever replaces Biden will face Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s withdrawal comes four months before Americans go to the polls, upending the race for the White House.
It follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats after a faltering debate performance against Republican Donald Trump at the end of June.
Following the announcement on Sunday evening, President Biden gave his endorsement in the presidential race to Vice President Kamala Harris.
In a letter posted to his social media account, he said it had been the greatest honour of his life to serve as 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 the duties as President for the remainder of my term,” he wrote in his statement.
Calls for Biden to withdraw from the race began to grow after a disastrous debate performance in late June against Donald Trump.
During the debate he was criticised for often being incoherent and speaking in a weak voice – something which his party claimed as down to a cold.
President Biden thanked his Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she was an “extraordinary partner”.
“And let me express my heartfelt appreciation for the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me,” his statement added.
“I believe today and always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”
He wrote that he would address the nation on the matter next week.
Last week he returned to his home in Delaware after being diagnosed with Covid, but said on Friday he was looking forward to “getting back on the campaign trail next week”.
He has previously said only the “Lord Almighty” could make him withdraw, but then later said he would consider withdrawing if he had a health condition.
The letter
Al Jazeera / BBC
