Biden is currently isolating after being diagnosed with Covid-19…reports Asian Lite News
Months before the 2024 Presidential election, US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced that he was dropping out of the race “in the best interest of my party and the country”. In a letter posted to his social media account, Biden, 81, said it had been the greatest honour of his life to serve as 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 the duties as President for the remainder of my term”, he said adding that he would address the nation on the matter next week.
President Biden thanked his Vice President Kamala Harris – who was tipped as his successor should he withdraw from the race, saying she was an “extraordinary partner”. “And let me express my heartfelt appreciation for the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me,” his statement added. “I believe today and 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.”
Biden’s sudden move follows pressure on him by many sections of the party seeking that he withdraw on health grounds, in the wake of his dismal performance in the first debate with former President Donald Trump. However, he had resisted the calls that he quit, saying that only the “Lord Almighty” could make him withdraw. He is currently isolating in his home in Delaware after being diagnosed with Covid-19.
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US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced he was withdrawing from the White House, saying “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”.
Biden, 81, endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris to take over the ticket vacated by him, saying: “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat (Donald) Trump.”
The party will need to nominate Kamala Harris formally at the convention in August, making her the first African-American woman and the first Indian-American to win the nomination of a major politician for the White House.
President Biden, who has been self-isolating at his home in Delaware with a Covid-19 infection, had been under mounting pressure to step aside and make way for a different candidate for the party, following a disastrous performance in the first presidential debate against his Republican rival, former President Trump.
“Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation,” he wrote in a letter addressed to “fellow Americans”.
“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 re-election, 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,” the US President said.
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