“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a statement.
Storyboard
Joe Biden steps aside in the presidential race
Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, clearing the way for someone else to go head-to-head against Donald Trump in November. The news followed a steady drumbeat of Democratic criticism after Biden’s dismal debate performance on June 27, panic among Democratic donors and politicians, and hand wringing about his sinking position in the polls against Trump. The president backed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement on the Democratic ticket.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote in a letter to Biden that he admired the president’s “courage” for his decision.
Biden has withdrawn, and will release his 3,904 delegates, who were selected last month.
Biden’s legacy will be shaped by his decision to step aside, but how history will remember the longtime lawmaker could depend on the election’s outcome.
The vice president thanked President Biden for his “unmatched legacy,” but stopped short of acknowledging her own presidential bid.
