President Biden has announced that he will not seek a second term in office and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. The news comes after months of speculation about Biden's political future and a series of disastrous public appearances.
Article:
In a stunning announcement on Sunday afternoon, President Biden announced that he will suspend his 2024 re-election campaign. The decision comes amid mounting pressure from his Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, top donors and Hollywood stars after a disastrous debate performance last month.
Biden Suspends Re-election Campaign, Endorses Kamala Harris
Biden, 81, said in a public letter 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. He said he will formally address the nation later this week about his decision.
The unprecedented announcement came as an increasing number of Democrat lawmakers had begun to publicly call for Biden to step aside. The party's leadership was reportedly engaged in efforts to convince Biden that he could not win in November's general election against Trump, the 2024 GOP nominee who Biden defeated four years ago to win the White House.
Biden Suspends Re-election Campaign, Endorses Kamala Harris
Biden's decision to drop out of the race is a major setback for the Democratic Party. Biden was the clear frontrunner for the nomination, and his departure leaves the field wide open. It is unclear who will emerge as the new favorite, but Vice President Kamala Harris is considered a strong contender.
Harris, 58, is the first woman and the first person of color to serve as vice president. She is a former senator from California and was a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2020.
Biden Suspends Re-election Campaign, Endorses Kamala Harris
Biden's announcement also comes as Trump is facing renewed scrutiny after he was reportedly the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump has said that he believes Harris would be easier to defeat in November's election.
The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in American history. The outcome of the election will have a profound impact on the future of the country.
Biden Suspends Re-election Campaign, Endorses Kamala Harris
