Joe Biden has stepped out of the race for 2024 reelection after a disastrous debate against Donald Trump Photo: Associated Press

President Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race after disastrous debate inflamed age concerns

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.

The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to call out the former president’s many falsehoods.

Officials have confirmed that Biden will serve out the remainder of his term.

Similar Reads On TownLift

Trump’s campaign has immediately started fundraising off Biden’s announcement, sending a note to supporters that said “he just quit the race in COMPLETE DISGRACE!”

Biden announced his decision in a letter released on social media.

The president said he will address the American people later this week “in more detail about my decision.”

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, one of the more than two dozen Democrats who had called for Biden to step aside, said the president’s decision Sunday “cemented his legacy in American history as the greatest president in the last 50 years.”

He added, “He made the right decision to spend the remainder of his presidency implementing his landmark achievements rather than fighting a campaign against Donald Trump.“

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that Biden “has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he is a truly amazing human being.“

“His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first,” said Schumer, who traveled to Rehoboth Beach earlier this month to speak to Biden directly about the race. “Joe, today shows you are a true patriot and great American.”

Trevor Potter, founder of the Campaign Legal Center, said Biden’s decision was “not an ordinary event, but it is also not a crisis.”

Potter cited Democratic Party rules “to govern the process of selecting a new nominee,” as well as Federal Election Commission rules “that apply to the funds currently held by the Biden-Harris campaign.”

There are some caveats, but experts have said that Harris could take over the campaign’s existing fundraising cash since her name is on its founding documents.