United States President Joe Biden has announced his decision to step down from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.
The announcement, made on Saturday, marks a significant shift in the Democratic Party’s strategy ahead of the upcoming election.
In his statement, President Biden expressed that while he initially intended to seek reelection, he believes that stepping down is in the best interest of both his party and the country.
“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 the duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said.
Biden emphasized his commitment to serving the nation effectively during the remainder of his presidency. He urged his fellow Democrats to rally behind Harris, highlighting her qualifications and his confidence in her leadership.
“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,” Biden continued. “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.”
Vice President Harris, who made history as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President of the United States, now steps into the spotlight as the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee.
