Biden Withdraws: President Joe Biden Ends Reelection Bid, Endorses Kamala Harris.
After weeks of battling to salvage his political career – claiming he wouldn’t be stepping down after a disastrous debate performance – the president’s sudden change of course was not announced through an Oval Office address or a campaign speech. Instead, it was revealed in a letter posted to social media while he was recovering from Covid-19 at his beach house in Delaware.
“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,” Biden wrote in a letter posted to X.
Harris expressed her gratitude for Biden’s endorsement, stating she is “honoured” and committed to “earning and winning” the nomination. Should she secure the nomination, Harris would make history as the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead the ticket of a major political party. To facilitate her candidacy, the Biden-Harris campaign has updated its filings with the Federal Election Commission, renaming its principal committee to reflect Harris’s new status as a presidential candidate.
Despite Biden’s support, the path forward remains uncertain. It is unclear whether Harris will automatically become the nominee or what alternative processes the Democratic Party might consider. Additionally, sources suggest that Senator Joe Manchin, an independent from West Virginia, is contemplating re-registering as a Democrat to enter the presidential race.
In response to Biden’s withdrawal, former President Donald Trump criticised Biden as “the worst president by far in the history of our country” during a call with CNN. Trump has also launched a fundraising appeal to rally his supporters.
