President Joe Biden is ending his quest for reelection.
Biden announced his intention Sunday afternoon, promising to reveal more about his decision soon.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden’s statement posted on X read. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, 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.”
His statement thanked Vice President Kamala Harris “for being an extraordinary partner in all this work,” but the statement did explicitly endorse her as his successor.
However, in a subsequent statement posted to X, Biden offered “my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.” Biden then called on Democrats to unite, writing “it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
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
This is a developing story. See below for updates, all times Pacific.
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11:52 p.m. PT
Even before today’s announcement by Biden, some were calling for him to step down from the presidency if he stepped aside from the nomination.
Republican Vice-Presidential Nominee Ohio Sen. JD Vance posted on X this morning before Biden’s announcement, “If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining President?”
If Joe Biden ends his reelection campaign, how can he justify remaining President?
Not running for reelection would be a clear admission that President Trump was right all along about Biden not being mentally fit enough to serve as Commander-in-Chief.
There is no middle ground.
— JD Vance (@JDVance1) July 21, 2024
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said in a statement, “If Joe Biden can’t run for re-election, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States. He must immediately resign.”
11:50 a.m. PT
Former Biden Chief of Staff Ron Klain on Democrat “donors and “electeds” to “end the political fantasy games” and united behind Harris, who he describes as “the only veteran of a national campaign.”
Now that the donors and electeds have pushed out the only candidate who has ever beaten Trump, it’s time to end the political fantasy games and unite behind the only veteran of a national campaign — our outstanding @vp, @KamalaHarris!! Let’s get real and win in November!
— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) July 21, 2024