On Sunday, US President Joe Biden made a historic announcement, revealing his decision to opt out of the presidential election race and instead endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's nominee. In a statement posted on X, Biden expressed his intention to focus entirely on his duties as President for the remainder of his term, citing it as the best course for the country and his party.
"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," Biden declared. Reflecting on his initial decision in 2020 to select Kamala Harris as his Vice President, Biden praised it as the best decision he had made during his tenure. He continued by offering his full support and endorsement to Harris to lead the party's candidacy in the upcoming presidential elections.
"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. Let’s do this," Biden emphasized in his post on X.
If Harris accepts Biden's endorsement and assumes the nomination, she will make history as the first Indian-origin woman to contest the US presidential elections, marking a significant milestone in American politics.
Biden's decision to step aside from the presidential race came amidst mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials following his perceived weak performance in the first presidential debate against Republican candidate Donald Trump. In his statement, Biden acknowledged the honor of serving as President and expressed gratitude for the opportunity while reaffirming his commitment to focusing solely on presidential duties for the remainder of his term.
This development sets the stage for Kamala Harris to potentially lead the Democratic Party into the next presidential election, signaling a pivotal moment in US political history and setting the tone for the upcoming electoral campaign against Donald Trump.
