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In a shocking move, Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 election against Donald Trump. “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be your President,” Biden, 81, said in a letter posted on X from his Delaware beach house where he’s recovering from Covid.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Biden explains: “While I intended to run, I think it’s in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step aside and focus on being President for the rest of my term.” He’ll address this further later this week.
Kamala Harris Poised for Nomination.
This has thrown the Democratic Party into chaos and they’re scrambling to find a new candidate for November. Kamala Harris is the front-runner.
Biden’s decision comes after weeks of intense pressure following a disastrous debate performance that raised concerns about his health. He’s the first President in U.S. history to drop out of an election this late due to health and mental acuity issues.
For weeks Biden resisted calls to step down, famously saying only the “Lord Almighty” could get him to do so. He tried to prove himself by doing numerous interviews and a big press conference but further missteps, including calling Harris “Vice President Trump”, only raised more doubts about his fitness.
Top Democratic fundraiser Clooney calls on Biden to drop out
The calls for him to drop out grew, starting with big names like George Clooney and ending with Barack Obama. His Covid diagnosis which forced him to take a break from the campaign trail was the final straw.
This ends a wild period in the U.S. election cycle which has already seen Trump survive an assassination attempt at a rally on July 13.
Biden joins the short list of presidents who have not sought a second term, a group last seen in 1968 when Lyndon Johnson dropped out. That was also a year of political turmoil and violence. Johnson’s successor, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, lost big to Richard Nixon.
Now Democrats are counting on Harris to stop Trump, a felon, from making a comeback to the White House. Internal polls show Harris is getting stronger against Trump. Despite early struggles, Harris has become a force on the campaign trail especially on issues like abortion rights.
As the first woman and the first Black and South Asian person to be Vice President, Harris is set to make history at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19—a big and emotional moment for the Biden administration.
Biden took office in January 2021 with a promise to heal the “soul of America” after the Trump years and the January 6th insurrection. His administration has had some big achievements and controversies. They passed a big COVID recovery plan a green industry initiative and strong support for Ukraine.
But his presidency has been hammered for the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and high inflation which has overshadowed good economic news. Biden’s age and a series of public gaffes have only fueled Republican attacks on him being out of touch.
As the nation now turns its focus to the upcoming Democratic National Convention, the political landscape remains as unpredictable and dramatic as ever.
