In a stunning turn of events, President Joe Biden has declared that he will not be running for re-election in the 2024 presidential race, causing a major shift in the political landscape.
What Happened: As reported by CNN on Thursday, Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race through a letter posted on his official account. He promised to provide more details in a forthcoming address to the nation.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote. “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.”
This decision follows weeks of speculation about the 81-year-old president’s health and his capacity to campaign effectively against Trump and govern for another four years. It marks the first time in decades that a U.S. president has withdrawn from a reelection run, reminiscent of President Lyndon Johnson’s decision in 1968, according to CNN.
Biden’s decision comes amid a highly charged political campaign that includes an attempt on Trump’s life and dwindling support from congressional Democrats. This marks the end of a political career that has spanned half a century, with Biden entering as one of the youngest senators in U.S. history and exiting as its oldest president.
Concerns about the president’s mental faculties have been Biden’s biggest political liability since his first run against Trump in 2020. A disastrous performance at the June 27 CNN debate brought these concerns to the forefront of political conversation, ultimately dooming his reelection bid.
Why It Matters: Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 race has significant implications for the upcoming election. His withdrawal opens up the field for other potential Democratic candidates and could potentially alter the dynamics of the race. Furthermore, this decision brings to the forefront the issue of age and health in presidential elections, a topic that has been a point of contention in recent years. The impact of this decision on the Democratic party and the 2024 presidential race will be closely watched in the coming weeks and months.
See Also:
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Shutterstock
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.