President Joe Biden has just announced that he will no longer be running for a second term. The news came via a statement on his official X account, with Biden promising to address the nation in more detail later this week.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote. He explained his change of heart, saying, “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.”
This decision comes after weeks of public speculations concerning the his stamina and mental health. Many had questioned whether Biden could effectively campaign against Trump and lead the country for another four years.
The turning point seems to have been Joe Biden’s performance in a June 27 debate. His lackluster showing raised eyebrows and amplified doubts about his fitness for office. Trying to bounce back, Biden told supporters at a rally,
“I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job.”
Despite his efforts, support for the President began to crumble. Democrats in Congress worried that keeping him as the candidate could hurt their chances in other races. Some, like Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, publicly asked him to step down.
Even long-time supporters started to waver. Actor George Clooney, a long-time Biden backer, wrote in the New York Times that Democrats “are not going to win in November with this president.” He called for a new nominee.
Joe Biden initially stood firm, saying only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to quit. But as pressure mounted, he began to reconsider. By mid-July, he admitted he might step aside if polls showed he couldn’t win.
This decision marks the end of Biden’s long political journey, from one of the youngest senators in U.S. history to its oldest president. It’s also a rare move in American politics – the last time a sitting president chose not to seek reelection was in 1968, when Lyndon Johnson stepped aside.
Joe Biden’s choice will significantly reshape the upcoming election and the Democratic Party’s strategy. The question now growing on everybody’s mind is, who will be the next candidate? Kamala Harris or….?
