Joe Biden announced in a letter this Sunday that he was withdrawing from the race for the 2024 American presidential election. The campaign is once again in turmoil with a replacement expected among the Democrats.
The essential
- Joe Biden announced this Sunday that he was withdrawing from the race for the American presidential election in November 2024. He explained this in a letter.
- The 81-year-old US president had been weakened for several weeks, his age and health raising many questions and calls for his withdrawal, including from Democrats.
- It is not officially known who will replace him for the bitter confrontation in November, facing a Donald Trump who has been triumphant since the assassination attempt last weekend. In a second message, Joe Biden gave his support to his vice-president Kamala Harris.
- Donald Trump responded to Joe Biden’s withdrawal on his Truth Social network: “The crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for president, and is certainly not fit to serve – and never was!” wrote the Republican candidate.
Live
20:52 – Donald Trump’s reaction: “The corrupt Joe Biden was not fit to run for president”
Joe Biden’s Republican opponent has just reacted to the announcement of his withdrawal, on his Truth Social network: “The crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for president, and is certainly not fit to serve – and never was!” Donald Trump wrote. “He only rose to the office of president through lies, fake news and not leaving his basement,” the former president continued.
Trump continues his attack on Joe Biden and the Democratic camp: “Everyone around him, including his doctor and the media, knew he was not fit to be president, and he wasn’t. And now look what he has done to our country, with millions of people coming across our border, totally unchecked and unvetted, many coming from prisons, mental institutions and a record number of terrorists. We will suffer greatly from his presidency, but we will repair the damage he has done very quickly.”
20:47 – Joe Biden has been in isolation for Covid-19 since Wednesday
The 81-year-old president tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday and was immediately placed in isolation at his private residence in Delaware. The next day, an initial health bulletin from Joe Biden was rather reassuring: “The president continues to have mild upper respiratory symptoms related to his recent Covid-19 infection,” but he “does not have a fever and his vital signs remain normal,” we learned Thursday.
20:41 – Failed debate, repeated gaffes, health concerns… Joe Biden gives in after a chaotic campaign
Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential campaign is the end of a saga that has put the Democratic camp to the test. At 81, the American president has repeatedly shown signs of weakness and confusion. On June 27, a failed debate against his opponent Donald Trump had revived the concerns of his camp. More recently, during a NATO summit, Joe Biden made a series of gaffes, for example confusing the name of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, with that of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
20:35 – Who will replace Joe Biden for the Democrats in the American presidential election?
Joe Biden has already announced his support for Kamala Harris to replace him in the November election. The vice president seems to be the new natural candidate for the Democratic camp, less than four months before the American election. However, other potential candidates could try their luck: California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, or Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. American media have also mentioned the name of Michelle Obama, the wife of the former Democratic president.
20:25 – Discover Joe Biden’s letter announcing his withdrawal from the American presidential election
Shortly before 8 p.m., the letter signed by the American president was published on his X account. “My fellow Americans, over the past three years, our nation has made great progress,” we can read at the beginning of the text. Joe Biden begins by taking stock of his first term, in terms of the economy, social protection measures and commitment to the climate. He then announces his decision to withdraw his candidacy for re-election. Here is the letter from the American head of state:
20:19 – Joe Biden supports Kamala Harris to replace him in the presidential election
In a tweet published shortly after his letter, Joe Biden indicated that he supported his vice president to take over from him in the presidential campaign. “Today, I want to give my full support to Kamala Harris to be our party’s representative this year. Democrats, it’s time to beat Trump,” can be read on the American president’s X account.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to choose Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
20:15 – Joe Biden thanks his vice president Kamala Harris in his letter
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who worked so hard for my re-election,” wrote Joe Biden, in the text that signs his withdrawal from the American presidential election. “I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris who is a tremendous partner in this work,” he added. He also addressed “the American people [s]sincere gratitude for the faith and trust he [lui] granted.”
20:07 – “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country that I step down,” Biden writes
In a message on X, the Democratic president announced that he was withdrawing from the American presidential election. “Serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life,” Joe Biden wrote. “And while I have sought re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and country for me to step aside and focus on my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
“I will address the nation in more detail this week about my decision,” Biden added.
“My fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a nation.
Today, America’s economy is the strongest in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our country, lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided much-needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. We’ve passed the first gun safety law in 30 years, appointed the first African-American woman to the Supreme Court. And we’ve passed the most significant climate legislation in world history. America has never been better positioned to lead than it is today.
I know that none of this could have happened without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once-in-a-century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We protected and preserved our democracy. And we revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your Speaker. Although I had intended to run again, I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step aside and focus solely on serving as Speaker for the remainder of my term.
Later this week, I will address the nation in more detail to explain my decision. In the meantime, let me express my deep gratitude to all those who worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been an extraordinary partner in all of this work. And let me express my sincere gratitude to the American people for the faith and trust they have placed in me.
I believe today what I have always believed: There is nothing America cannot do – when we do it together. We just have to remember that we are the United States of America.”