Joe Biden Steps Down: A Historic Decision That Shakes Up the 2024 Presidential Race

US Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic nominee’s successor, while US President Joe Biden has withdrawn his reelection campaign. The already dramatic battle for the White House has become even more fierce as a result of this remarkable choice.

Joe Biden Announcement :

The 81-year-old Mr. Joe Biden said in a written statement on Sunday that while holding office had been the “greatest honor” of his life, it was “in the best interest of my party and country.” With this announcement, the turbulent time in American politics that started on June 27 with his frequently erratic debate against Donald Trump comes to an end. Mr. Biden declared that he would hold the presidency through January.

The 49-year-old Ms. Harris declared she will “earn and win” the nomination and bring the nation together against Trump, expressing her “honor” at getting the support. “We have 107 days until Election Day,” she continued. Together, we shall fight. And together, we’ll triumph.”

Ms. Harris has garnered the endorsement of multiple prominent party figures; however, she has not been formally nominated as of yet; this will not be feasible until the Democratic National Convention in August. Only five days after escaping an attempted assassination, a resurgent Trump has taken the lead in the polls and was officially announced as the Republican nominee at this week’s party convention in Milwaukee.

Trump said that Mr. Joe Biden was “unfit to run for election… and certainly unfit to serve” in light of his decision. Similar to his criticism, other prominent Republicans demanded that Mr. Joe Biden resign from both the White House and the Democratic nomination right away.

While the President had already spoken to Ms. Harris and a few others, White House staff and campaign officials were notified of Mr. Joe Biden’s decision shortly before the statement was made public on Sunday afternoon. A number of prominent Democrats and veterans, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and President Barack Obama, promptly applauded the choice and Mr. Biden’s accomplishments throughout his tenure.

In a statement endorsing Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee for the November election, former president Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton promised to “do everything they can” to assist her in winning. While expressing “extraordinary confidence” that a “great candidate will emerge,” Mr. Obama made no clear mention of endorsing Ms. Harris or any other candidate.

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

Pelosi has not provided a statement.

First among Democrats to urge Mr. Biden to decline reelection, Senator Peter Welch urged for a “open process” to choose Harris’s nominee. But there are already indications that she will have the support of a large number of party members, including prominent politicians who were thought to be possible candidates in the event that Mr. Biden resigned.

Rumored presidential candidate Gavin Newsom of California commended Mr. Biden’s choice as “selfless” and affirmed his support for Ms. Harris, calling her “fearless” and “determined” to take on Trump. Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, declared he will “do everything possible to help Kamala Harris become the 47th President of the United States.”

Referring to Joe Biden as “one of the most significant presidents in American history,” current Transportation Secretary and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg promised to “do everything I can to help Kamala Harris become the next President.” As she has always said, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is committed “to do everything possible to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump.”

In the meanwhile, the Harris Victory Fund and the Harris Action Fund are the suggested names for the DNC’s fundraising committees. Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn, and investor Alexander Soros, two significant Democratic funders, have both openly supported Harris.

An hour after Mr. Joe Biden’s statement, a campaign commercial criticizing Ms. Harris was posted by the Trump-affiliated Super PAC campaign fund, Make America Great Again, with the assertion that she “hid Joe’s obvious mental decline.” “Now, whoever the left nominates will be the same,” declared President Trump.