Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race, ending weeks of speculation over his candidacy and reshaping the Democratic campaign for November. The 81-year-old president's decision follows a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump on 27 June, which intensified concerns among Democrats about his ability to win the general election.
Despite insisting for weeks that he would not stand down, Biden announced on Sunday that he now believes it is in the best interest of his party and the country to focus solely on fulfilling his duties as president for the remainder of his term. He said he would address the nation later this week in more detail about his decision.
Biden's repeated media and campaign appearances since the debate failed to allay voters' and donors' fears about his mental acuity, keeping the issue of his age in the headlines. Vice-President Kamala Harris is now expected to step up as the Democratic nominee, with speculation rife about her potential running mate.
The Republican response has been swift, with Trump's campaign seizing on the upheaval. The withdrawal marks an unprecedented move for an incumbent president so late in the election cycle, leaving Democrats just over three months to rally behind a new candidate.
