President Joe Biden has yielded to burgeoning pressure from within his own party, announcing Sunday afternoon that he will withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
The stunning decision came amid reports that Biden was stubbornly hanging on, believing he was the best candidate to defeat former President Donald Trump.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote in a statement shared on the social media site X.
“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 said.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
The 81-year-old president did not comment on the growing concerns about his mental acuity that took off like wildfire after the disastrous presidential debate exposed cognitive challenges that the media has largely kept hidden from the American people.
“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision,” he said.
In a separate post, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement.
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” he said. “My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
“We’re in uncharted waters,” said Barbara Perry, a presidential studies professor at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, told NBC News. “No president has dropped out or died this close to the convention.”
Elon Musk, who endorsed Trump after last week’s failed assassination attempt, offered an interesting response to the sudden announcement.
“I heard last week that he would resign at this exact time and date. It was widespread knowledge in DC. The real powers that be are discarding the old puppet in favor of one that has a better chance of fooling the public. They fear Trump because he is not a puppet,” Musk posted on X.
I heard last week that he would resign at this exact time and date. It was widespread knowledge in DC.
The real powers that be are discarding the old puppet in favor of one that has a better chance of fooling the public.
They fear Trump because he is not a puppet.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 21, 2024
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson questioned whether Biden is “fit to serve the rest of his term.”
“This is a scandal of historic proportions – our president is incapacitated, Democrats knew, and they lied to the American people to cover it up,” Hudson said in a statement. “Voters will neither forgive nor forget the ultimate betrayal of their trust. Judgment day is coming in November, when Americans will hand down Democrats’ ultimate punishment: Donald Trump in the White House and a larger House Republican majority.”
He added, “If the president is mentally unfit to campaign, he is mentally unfit to have the nuclear codes. Every House Democrat must now answer: is the president fit to serve the rest of his term?”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Fetterman slams NYC ‘a**holes’ chanting for Hamas near Jewish school - January 9, 2026
- JD Vance calls out an ‘absolutely insane headline’ – and for good reason! - January 9, 2026
- Australian mass shooting hero praises Trump: ‘I love him’ - January 9, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.