United States President Joe Biden has decided to forego seeking re-election, citing the "best interests of his party" and the nation.
The announcement, made public on Sunday, follows intense pressure from within the Democratic Party, with over 30 members of Congress publicly urging Biden to step aside.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Biden expressed gratitude for his presidency and his intention to focus solely on fulfilling his duties until his term concludes in January 2025.
"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. 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," Biden wrote.
The decision marks a historic moment in U.S. politics, as Biden becomes the first sitting president since Lyndon Johnson in 1968 to decline his party's nomination for re-election. The move leaves the Democratic Party scrambling to adjust its strategy with less than four months remaining until Election Day.
Shortly after his initial announcement, Biden followed up with an expression of support for Vice President Kamala Harris, signaling her as the presumptive leader of the Democratic ticket.
Harris, 59, would make history as the first Black woman to run at the top of a major party ticket in the United States.
"My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. Today I want to offer my full supoort and endorsement for Kama to be the nominee of our party this year," Biden captioned in an X post.
"Democrats — it's time to come together and beat Trump. let's do this," he added.
Meanwhile, Harris thanked Biden for his "extraordinary leadership" and service in the United States.
"I will do everything in my power to unite the Decmocratic Party —and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. If you're with me, add a donation right now," she wrote in her X account.
UPDATE: Inendorso ni @JoeBiden si Vice President @KamalaHarris bilang nominee ng democrats para sa US Presidential elections.
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) July 21, 2024
Malugod naman itong tinanggap ni Harris at nangakong tatalunin niya si dating US Pres. Donald Trump. | DZRH News pic.twitter.com/APfQbwXESS
President Biden is scheduled to address the nation later this week to further elaborate on his decision and the path forward for the Democratic Party as they navigate this unexpected turn in their quest to retain the White House.
