President Joe Biden has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2024, ending his bid for a second term in the White House. In a surprise move, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for president. The announcement came after weeks of speculation and pressure from Democrats for Biden to step aside following a disastrous presidential debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s decision marks a significant shift in the 2024 presidential race. He stated that he believes it is in the best interests of his party and the country for him to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling his duties as president for the remainder of his term.
In a public letter, Biden expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president, stating, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president.” He also stressed his unwavering support for Harris, writing, “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.”
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have also thrown their support behind Harris. In a joint statement, they praised Biden’s presidency, stating that he “has capped his extraordinary career of service with a Presidency that has lifted America out of an unprecedented pandemic, created millions of new jobs, rebuilt a battered economy, strengthened our democracy, and restored our standing in the world.” They also expressed their deep concern about the threat posed by a second Trump term, urging voters to support Harris. “We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term. He has promised to be a dictator on day one, and the recent ruling by his servile Supreme Court will only embolden him to further shred the Constitution. Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.”
The president’s endorsement, along with power players like the Clintons, may dissuade any serious completion from other Democrats who may have mulled a bid for the presidential nomination. This could clear a path for the vice president to succeed Biden as the party’s nominee.
