Biden drops out of the race for the White House and proposes Harris as his candidate
"It was the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President," stated Biden in a letter to his "American fellow citizens," which he published on the online service X. "And even though it was my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to step aside and dedicate myself solely to the fulfillment of my duties as President for the remainder of my term." Biden announced that he would provide Americans with a more detailed explanation of his decision during the week.
The 81-year-old had been under heavy pressure within his party due to doubts about his mental and physical fitness. Biden thanked all those who supported him during the campaign and praised Vice President Harris as an "exceptional partner."
In another message on X, Biden expressed his support for Harris as the Democratic candidate in November against Republican Donald Trump. "Today, I want to publicly declare my full support and my confidence in Kamala as our Party's candidate in this year," he stated. Harris, who had already been mentioned as a likely alternative in case of a Biden withdrawal, had only received low approval ratings in the polls.
Harris expressed her gratitude for Biden's support and stated confidently, "My intention is to earn and win this nomination."
Former President Barack Obama, under whose eight-year tenure Biden served as Vice President, warned his fellow Democrats: "We are entering uncharted territory in the coming days." However, he expressed full confidence in the Democratic Party leadership in the selection of the new candidate. Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison announced a "transparent and orderly process" for the nomination.
Biden had been under immense pressure since his disastrous television debate with his challenger Trump on June 27. More than 30 members of the House of Representatives and several Senators from the Democratic ranks had called for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race due to concerns about his mental and physical fitness.
Even on Friday, the President had rejected calls for him to withdraw from the race for the White House and had announced that he would resume his campaign rallies after recovering from his Corona infection in the coming week.
Friends of Biden, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, praised his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.
Biden is the first President in the history of the USA to withdraw his candidacy due to concerns about his mental and physical fitness. Additionally, he is the first President to announce his withdrawal so late in the race.
Trump also commented on Biden's withdrawal. The incumbent President was "not fit" to run for President again and was "certainly not fit" to fulfill the duties of the Presidency, wrote the 78-year-old on his online platform Truth Social.
Trump had come close to being attacked on July 13 and was officially endorsed as the Republican presidential candidate at the Republican Party convention. Now, he is forced to restructure his campaign focused on Biden.
The Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, called on Biden to resign immediately. "If Joe Biden is not fit to run for the presidency, he is not fit to serve as president. He must resign immediately," Johnson declared on X.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) paid respects to Biden. "His decision not to run again deserves recognition," Scholz declared on X. The US President has "achieved much: for his country, for Europe, for the world," wrote Scholz. "Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong, the USA is a good and reliable partner for us."
CDU leader Friedrich Merz declared on X that Biden had "served the American people for more than five decades." His decision deserved "greatest respect."
The Kremlin in Moscow assumes that in the four months until the US presidential election, much can still change. "That is a long time, during which much can happen," Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told the news website "Life.ru".
- The Democratic Party now looks towards Joe Biden's chosen Partner, Kamala Harris, for their Presidential election campaign against Republican Candidate Donald Trump.
- Biden, in his letter, expressed his gratitude towards the White House staff and acknowledged the support from the American people during his candidacy.
- Despite the low approval ratings in the polls, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed confidence in earning the Democratic nomination with Biden's backing.
- The Republican Party Chairman, Mike Johnson, criticized Biden's decision to withdraw due to health concerns, insisting that he resign immediately.
- On Sunday, the United States of America observed a significant shift in the presidential race after Biden's announcement, sparking mixed reactions both domestically and internationally.
- The Republicans have been forced to restructure their campaign strategy, focusing on challenges posed by the current US-President, Joe Biden, in the remaining four months of the race.
- In a public statement, former President Barack Obama expressed full confidence in the Democratic Party leaders to choose a suitable candidate, emphasizing the Party's preparedness to navigate this "uncharted territory."
- Biden became the first American President in history to withdraw his candidacy due to concerns about his mental and physical fitness, leaving the Democrats in a race to select a replacement before the November elections.
- Trump, while maintaining his stance on Biden's unfitness for the presidency, acknowledged the situation and assured his followers that his campaign would adapt accordingly in the lead-up to the election.
