On Sunday, Joe Biden withdrew from the US presidential election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee.
This unexpected development dramatically alters the already unique 2024 race for the White House. Biden, 81, cited the “best interest of my party and the country” for his decision, following pressure after a poor performance in a June debate against Donald Trump, which raised concerns about his age and mental fitness, as reported by AFP.
This surprising move has thrown the Democratic Party into disarray ahead of the November 5 election. However, it may also rejuvenate the party, with Harris quickly expressing her ambition to become America’s first female president and to “defeat Donald Trump.”
Trump responded with multiple posts on his Truth Social network, arguing that if Biden is not “fit to run” for president, he is also not “fit to serve.”
The shift disrupts the Republican campaign, which had been solely focused on Biden, now pitting 78-year-old Trump against a much younger opponent. This change transforms the previously unpopular Trump-Biden rematch into one of the most intriguing presidential campaigns in modern American history.
Biden’s withdrawal had been anticipated for some time, but the announcement came suddenly as he was recovering from Covid at his Delaware beach house. In a letter posted on X, Biden described being president as the “greatest honor of my life” and stated he would address the nation later in the week. The White House confirmed he had no public events scheduled for Monday.
“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 step down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” he wrote.
Soon after, Biden offered his “full support and endorsement” for Harris, with his campaign officially changing its name to “Harris for President.”
Endorsements for Harris poured in from key Democratic figures and potential rivals for the nomination, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom. Meanwhile, the Democratic fundraising group ActBlue reported that Harris received $27.5 million in small-donor contributions within just five hours.
