President Joe Biden has ended his bid for reelection following weeks of calls from prominent members of his party to leave the 2024 race. The decision comes after concerns about the president’s health following a debate with former President Donald Trump in June.
In the statement released Sunday, July 21, the president said he is dropping out to focus on his duties as president for the remainder of his term. He said he believes the decision is in the best interest of his “party and the country.”
After June’s poor debate performance, a number of high-profile Democrats in Congress urged Biden to step aside due to concerns it would hurt their ability to gain majorities in either chamber. Former President Barack Obama also reportedly called on him to get out of the race.
Shortly after Sunday’s announcement, President Biden gave his full endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee.
“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,” the president posted on X.