In a sigificant turn of events, U.S. President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection just four months before the election. The decision follows a contentious debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump, which raised significant doubts about Biden’s fitness for office.
During the June 27 debate, the 81-year-old president often trailed off and failed to address the former president’s numerous falsehoods. This performance led to escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside.
President Biden stated that his decision “is in the best interest of my party and the country.” Despite withdrawing from the race, he plans to serve out the remainder of his term, which concludes at noon ET on January 20, 2025.
President Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee. The move comes as Americans prepare to head to the polls on November 5, 2024.
Biden’s withdrawal marks a significant moment in the 2024 election cycle, as the Democratic Party looks to regroup and rally behind a new candidate in the face of a challenging campaign season.
Below is the Full Statement released on X
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR. July 21, 2024
My Fellow Americans, Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. 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.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
Ooo no our Bemba President Joe Biden.
This is saddest day for Zambia. I hope HH declares a holiday on Monday.
If it was PF , there could have been prayers and fasting.
Thanks Joe Biden for 50yrs of public service done with humility and lack of greed. Greedy Lungu and PF should learn from this exemplary leadership.
This is the most intelligent decision. If the body is tired you retire to bed.
Long overdue!!
Ostrich can’t continue to bury his head in the sand!
Messed up the economy and a war monger!
Treated Palestine with no regard for human life and suffering.
No tears shed!!
The Republican have no principles and the Democrats have no spin. The billionaires Cats hijacked the party and the Formula the used worked for them and JB dropped. The billionaires also got the message loud and clear in the last one week, that it’s either Kamara or they will sit out this election. No by passing of Kamara Harris for presidential nominee. The process will go ahead just for formality.
MAGA is already in panic mode.
Trump is already in panic mode.
Ring kissers are in panic mode.
Mwamuna wokalambayo kwenikweni ndi munthu wabwino kwambiri ndipo ndichifukwa chake chinali chosankha chovuta chosavuta kupanga. Amaika dziko ndi demokalase patsogolo pake.
It seems Trump might be the second President after Jimmy Carter to have a split 2 terms in office. It’s unthinkable that the Yankees wanted to hand instruments of power to the most powerful nation in the world to a man in his dotage.
these people don’t understand most of things you write.
Lets find a solution to our electricity problems….lets stop the looting of our resources and stealing of Medicine….stop worrying about Biden or Trump….LETS BUILD ZAMBIA AND MAKE ZAMBIA GREAT
Yes we’re spending time worrying about a neighbour’s house lawn while ours is overgrown with weeds.
Too late decision which will cost his party to
Win as the successor has no time to win the
Peoples vote.Same applies in Zambia.
Neither Republicans or Dems stand for black people. Trump and his MAGA are open racists. The Democrats wear plastic smiles. They are sponsored by and push the LGBTQ agenda wrecking havoc on the traditional black family and the world at large. Cleverly the use a blackman, Obama to do their dirty work. We supported him blindly becausehe was black. I regret. In such a case it is better to deal with an open racist, at least you know what you are dealing with. There is no pretence. And at least I agree with them on one thing. A man is man and a woman is a woman!
Exactly! in this case the devil you know is far much better than that angel you think is with you. I may hate Trump in other things but at least he is open.
hh your boss is gone, what are you waiting for? Follow him too kikikikiki. I betcha hh can never do this kikikiki
When the body fails its not a good feeling…Harris will have one of the shortest campaign inn American history just four months..she will be endorsed as the Candidate simple because when Biden nominated her and the party accepted it meant in case of any eventuality she would presido…Trump would have defeated Joe but not Harris…
Its about we start working together and develop our own countries….Lets develop Africa….lets develop Zambia…lets fight poverty as Zambian…lets fight poverty as Africans…..lets fight corruption as Zambians…lets fight corruption as Africans
Trump is fighting for himself…his business and his family pretending like he’s fighting for America…just like Biden..he was in office fighting for himself and his family not for America…Hakainde Hichilema is also fighting for himself and his family and his business…and also am fighting for myself by working 4 jobs and providing for my family….am not like Spaka who’s stealing containers of medical supplies meant for the Zambian people
This is in contrast to our “Angels” Governing Zambia. The economy is on its knees, corruption is rampant, the leader is as defiant as ever. The country is run like a cattle ranch and yet they will not even talk about resigning. The most secretive Government to have ever ruled Zambia. No body knows what goes on not even our members of parliament. Self praise is the order of the day and yet nothing is being done for the people of Zambia. God what sin have we committed to deserve such leadership who claim to know everything when they know nothing.