In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden has announced that he will not seek re-election. The President made his announcement on the social media platform X, citing the best interests of his party and country as his reasons for stepping down from the race. Biden assured that he would continue to perform his presidential duties until the end of his term.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden stated. “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 my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
Biden’s announcement has paved the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic candidate in the upcoming elections. The decision on her candidacy will be made by the Democratic National Convention.
Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” Biden wrote in his post, showing his support for Harris.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Republican Reactions
Former President Donald Trump was quick to respond, predicting that Kamala Harris would be the Democratic nominee. He stated to CNN that Harris would be easier to defeat than Biden and called Biden the “the worst president in the history of the United States,” Trump criticized Biden’s administration, claiming it had significantly harmed the United States.
Republicans are now calling for Biden’s immediate resignation. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, urged Biden to “resign immediately.” Richard Hudson, head of the Republican campaign headquarters, called Biden’s decision to exit the race a “scandal of historic proportions.”
Russian Response
In Russia, the news was met with both humor and skepticism. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, joked, “Biden announced he is leaving the presidential race, but didn’t say where exactly.” She called for an investigation into the alleged collusion of US media and politicians who supposedly concealed Biden’s true mental state.
Maria Zakharova shared a humorous video on Twitter that has captured the internet’s attention. The clip, set in a scene reminiscent of the iconic “Matrix” movie, humorously reimagines a showdown between President Biden and former President Trump. In the video, Biden launches a barrage of bullets at Trump, who, in a nod to Neo’s legendary bullet-dodging abilities, effortlessly stops them in mid-air with a dramatic flair. Zakharova’s playful take on this cinematic moment adds a whimsical twist to the ongoing political drama.
#USElection#Zakharova
He is the one.
Created by @Cyncratic pic.twitter.com/Xby63VRXJs— Maria Zakharova (Commentary) (@_MariaZakharova) July 21, 2024
The Kremlin, through its spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, emphasized that the priority for Russia remains its own strategic objectives rather than the results of the 2024 US Presidential elections. “We need to stay attentive and see what happens next,” Peskov said.
Decision Made Under Pressure
Reports indicate that Biden’s decision was made under significant pressure from his party and its sponsors. Despite earlier intentions to continue his campaign, Biden decided against running for re-election just hours before his announcement. According to The New York Times, Biden felt pressured by coordinated leaks and criticisms within his party, particularly from former President Barack Obama.
The decision marks a rare moment in U.S. history where a sitting president has chosen not to seek re-election, the last being Lyndon Johnson in 1968 amid the Vietnam War.
