President Joseph Biden
In a letter addressed to the American people, President Joseph Biden has announced his decision not to seek reelection in the upcoming presidential election, a decision many had said was imminent.
The letter, dated July 21, follows an abysmal debate performance against presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump late June, that led to incessant calls from prominent leaders of his own party to step aside. Mr. Biden, however, said he will complete his current term in office. Ailments linked to aging has buffeted Biden during the campaign season, and it all came to a head at the June 27 debate, where the president struggled to string together cohesive sentences.
In his letter, Mr. Biden explains his decision not to seek reelection, stating, "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."
In a separate message to his fellow Democrats, the president announced his full support and endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the upcoming election. "My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. 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," he stated.
President Biden expressed his gratitude to all those who have supported him and his administration, acknowledging Harris as an extraordinary partner. He reassured the American people of his continued dedication to his presidential duties and emphasized the importance of unity in achieving future goals. "I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America," he concluded.
Mr. Biden plans to address the nation later this week to provide more details about his decision.
