Washington: As of Saturday night, President Joe Biden was set to continue his campaign for the 2024 presidential race. However, a dramatic change of heart occurred, with Biden informing his senior staff on Sunday afternoon of his decision to withdraw from the race, according to a source familiar with the matter.
According to an international news agency Reuters report, “Last night the message was proceed with everything, full speed ahead,” the source told on the condition of anonymity. “At around 1:45 p.m. today, the president told his senior team that he had changed his mind.”
Later, President Biden announced his decision on social media. In a post on X, he expressed that he is withdrawing from the presidential race.
By withdrawing his reelection bid, President Biden paves the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to run as the first Black woman at the top of the ticket in the country’s history. At 81, Biden did not mention Harris when he announced his decision.
The sudden announcement took many White House staff by surprise, especially given that Biden was recuperating from a bout of COVID-19 at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The 81-year-old president, grappling with a persistent cough, spent the weekend reflecting on mounting Democratic pressure for him to exit the race.
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Biden was reportedly frustrated by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who Biden’s advisors believed was leading a campaign to pressure him into stepping down.
Just hours before the unexpected announcement, Biden’s campaign had dismissed reports of his potential withdrawal. “It is false. And I think that it is false to continue to try to gin up this narrative,” deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks stated on MSNBC’s “The Weekend” on Sunday morning.
