US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he is withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race. In a letter to supporters, Biden stated that he would focus on his duties for the remainder of his term, prioritizing the best interests of the Democratic Party and the country.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote in a letter posted on his X account. “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,” he said.
Biden thanked Vice President Kamala Harris in his letter and later endorsed her as the Democratic nominee for president in a tweet. He plans to address the nation in more detail later this week.
This decision comes just months before the November election and pushes the Democratic Party into uncharted territory with its national convention set to begin on August 19 in Chicago. Biden’s announcement follows weeks of pressure from Democratic leaders, organizers, and donors who saw no viable path to victory with him on the ticket.
The decision also comes just months before the November election, where he was set to face off against former President and the Republican nominee Donald Trump.