President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he will be ending his presidential re-election campaign, bringing a sudden and humbling conclusion to his half-century-long political career.
The 81-year-old leader’s decision comes just four months before Election Day, sending shockwaves throughout the political landscape.
Biden’s abrupt withdrawal is seen as a response to growing sentiment within his party that he was too frail to serve another term and destined to lose to Donald Trump in November.
Despite his initial intention to seek re-election, Biden has now thrown his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who will likely become the Democratic nominee.
In a letter posted on Sunday, Biden explained that he believes it is in the best interest of his party and the country for him to step down and focus solely on fulfilling his duties as President for the remainder of his term.
He thanked Harris for being an “extraordinary partner” and endorsed her in a subsequent post.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President,” Biden wrote. “And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”
The sudden development caps off a storied national political career for Biden, which spanned decades.
He began his political journey as a young lawyer, later becoming a U.S. Senator for 36 years, serving as Chairman of the powerful Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees, and eventually serving eight years as Vice President under Barack Obama.
Biden’s withdrawal sets off a chain reaction in the Democratic Party, with many wondering what this means for the future of the presidential election.
