In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden, 81, announced his resignation from office on July 21, 2024. He took to social media as he recovered from Covid-19 at his beach house in Delaware to announce the end of his reign through a letter. Marking the first time in modern U.S. history that a sitting president has voluntarily stepped down under non-scandalous circumstances.
The decision, Biden explained, was due to a deep sense of duty and the recognition of the nation’s current challenges.“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,” he stated.
In his letter, he also expressed gratitude to Harris for “being an extraordinary partner” and later endorsed her for the upcoming election. At 59, Harris would make history as the first Black woman to lead a major party’s ticket in the country.
Democratic criticism of Biden intensified following his shaky performance at the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season, where he kept losing his train of thought and had difficulty articulating basic points.
Four days prior to Sunday’s announcement, Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 for the third time, forcing him to cut short a campaign trip to Las Vegas. More than 10% of congressional Democrats had publicly called for him to drop out of the race.
Reactions to Biden’s resignation have been mixed. Supporters praised his decision as a selfless act, prioritizing the nation’s needs over personal ambition. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the timing and the challenges Harris will face stepping into the role during a period of significant political and economic turbulence.
Biden’s resignation marks the end of a political career spanning nearly five decades, including 36 years in the Senate and eight years as Vice President under Barack Obama.
