US President Joe Biden has shocked the nation by announcing that he will not seek re-election, just four months before Americans head to the polls. In a statement released on Sunday evening, President Biden cited the best interest of his party and the country as the reason for his decision.
The announcement comes after weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats following a lackluster debate performance against Republican Donald Trump at the end of June. Calls for Biden to withdraw from the race began to grow after the debate, where he was criticized for being incoherent and speaking in a weak voice.
In his statement, President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor, calling her an “extraordinary partner”. He expressed his gratitude to the American people for their faith and trust in him, and emphasized the importance of unity in the United States.
President Biden’s decision to step down has upended the race for the White House, with many Democrats concerned that his campaign would hurt their own re-election chances in November. Despite previously stating that only the “Lord Almighty” could make him withdraw, Biden ultimately decided to focus on fulfilling his duties as President for the remainder of his term.
Republican nominee Donald Trump wasted no time in responding to the news, stating on his Truth Social platform that Joe Biden was “not fit to run for President”. The nation now awaits President Biden’s address to the nation next week, where he is expected to further explain his decision to end his re-election bid.
