US Election: Joe Biden steps down, endorses Kamala Harris

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United States President, Joe Biden, has stepped aside from his re-election bid and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming election.

In a statement shared on his X page Sunday, Biden said he will speak to the nation later this week to provide more details about his decision.

He stated that his decision was made in the best interest of the Democratic Party and the country.

Biden noted that serving as president has been the greatest honour of his life.

The 81-year-old also said that choosing Harris as his Vice President was the best decision he made.

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

Biden’s step-down statement

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 honour of my life to serve as your President. While I have intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and 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. 

pic.twitter.com/RMIRvlSOYw

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

The 2024 United States elections are scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024.