Monday Briefing: Biden Ends His Re-Election Bid

President Biden said he would address the nation about his decision later this week. Credit…Eric Lee/The New York Times

President Biden steps aside

President Biden abandoned his bid for re-election yesterday, succumbing to intense pressure from the Democratic Party in a dramatic attempt to stop Donald Trump from returning to the White House. No sitting U.S. president has dropped out of a race so late in an election cycle. Follow our live coverage of reactions, endorsements and further developments.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden said in a letter posted on social media. “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.”

Biden said he planned to serve out his term, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee. Here’s where she stands on key issues.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President,” he said in a subsequent online post. “And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”

Not long after, Harris announced that she was running. “My intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she said in a statement. “We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”

Biden, 81, announced his withdrawal after a disastrous debate performance against Trump intensified concerns about the president’s age and ability to win the election. Biden defied calls to drop out for weeks and told aides as recently as Saturday night that the campaign was still full speed ahead. Most of his staff was informed of his decision at 1:45 p.m., one minute before Biden posted his announcement.