President Biden will not run for reelection, endorsing VP Harris as nominee

After weeks of calls to drop out of the race, President Joe Biden has announced he will not run for re-election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

The announcement comes just one month before the Democratic National Convention is set to begin, and three months before Election Day.

On Friday, Biden was adamant that he would return to the campaign trail after testing positive for COVID-19, but the health concern was just the latest in a series of events that put pressure on Biden’s bid for president.

According to Presidential Historian Rick Shenkman, this has never happened. The last sitting President to serve four years and not seek reelection was James Polk, the 11th President of the U.S., 180 years ago and before there were term limits.

In his statement, President Biden told voters, “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.”

President Biden’s daughter Naomi Biden shared a statement in support of her Dad, saying, “To the Americans who have always had his back, keep the faith. He will always have ours.”

Former President Donald Trump posted his statement on social media platform Truth.

Former President Barack Obama shared his thoughts on Medium, speaking about Biden’s career and character. He highlighted Biden’s track record throughout his political career, adding, “Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order.”

Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris:

“On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. His remarkable legacy of accomplishment is unmatched in modern American history, surpassing the legacy of many Presidents who have served two terms in office.

It is a profound honor to serve as his Vice President, and I am deeply grateful to the President, Dr. Biden, and the entire Biden family. I first came to know President Biden through his son Beau. We were friends from our days working together as Attorneys General of our home states. As we worked together, Beau would tell me stories about his Dad. The kind of father—and the kind of man—he was. And the qualities Beau revered in his father are the same qualities, the same values, I have seen every single day in Joe’s leadership as President: His honesty and integrity. His big heart and commitment to his faith and his family. And his love of our country and the American people.

With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.

I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.

We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”

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