In a surprising announcement today, U.S. President Joe Biden declared his decision not to seek re-election. The announcement, made through a letter published on his social media, comes after weeks of controversy surrounding his age and mental capacity to continue serving for another four years.
Joe Biden’s Official Statement
“Although my intention has been to run for re-election, I believe that the best course of action for my party and the country is to step aside and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in the statement. He indicated that more details about his decision will be shared later this week.
Biden expressed his “profound gratitude” to his re-election campaign team, especially Vice President Kamala Harris, who he praised as an “extraordinary partner in this work” and whose name is now a strong contender for the presidential candidacy.
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Reflecting on Achievements
The President, who recently tested positive for COVID-19 and is still recovering, took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of his administration. “Today, the United States is stronger than ever. We made historic investments to rebuild our nation, lower prescription drug costs for seniors, and make healthcare accessible to a record number of Americans,” Biden stated.
He also reflected on overcoming significant challenges during his presidency, including navigating the country through an unprecedented pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. In a veiled reference to his predecessor, Donald Trump, who disputed the 2020 election results and incited the January 6 Capitol riot, Biden remarked, “We have protected and preserved democracy. We have revitalized and strengthened our alliances worldwide.”
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Internal Party Pressure
Biden’s decision also follows mounting pressure from within his own party. An increasing number of Democratic senators and representatives had urged him to step aside after his poor performance in a debate with Trump on June 27, where he appeared confused and incoherent. Reports suggest that even former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as Vice President, began to pressure him, convinced that Biden could not defeat Trump in the upcoming November elections.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to be your President,” Biden concluded, days after the reports surfaced. He ended his letter with a hopeful message, stating, “There is nothing the United States cannot achieve if we do it together. We just have to remember that we are the United States of America.”
This is the full text of Joe Biden’s letter in which he announces his resignation from re-election:
Biden’s Official Statement
“My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
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 and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
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.”
