United States President Joe Biden says in a statement on X that he is stepping down as a candidate in the 2024 election, and that he will speak to the nation “later this week” about his decision.
Dozens of congressional Democrats have publicly urged the 81-year-old to step aside after his shaky debate performance last month against Republican challenger Donald Trump, 78.
Biden has repeatedly dismissed these calls, insisting he is the most qualified person to defeat Trump and that the push for his exit is primarily driven by Democratic elites and the media.
The standoff has left the party at a crossroads, just weeks before the Democratic National Convention kicks off on August 19 and less than four months until the November 5 election.
- Biden joins small club
Biden joins a small group of US presidents who have decided to throw in the towel after just one term.
The last was Lyndon Johnson in 1968, a year also marked by political turmoil and violence.
Johnson’s replacement as nominee, then-vice president Hubert Humphrey, went on to lose heavily to Richard Nixon.
- Biden says he plans to serve out remainder of his term in office
This ends on January 20 next year.
“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,” Biden wrote in the letter posted to his X account.
