Biden, a Democrat, had announced that he would run for re-election in the 2024 presidential election on April 25, 2023, with Harris again as his running mate.[1] Biden had the uncontested support of all major donors in Democratic Party politics and went on to win an overwhelming majority of delegates in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries. He was already considered the presumptive nominee before the primaries were over. However, public concerns about Biden's age and health had emerged during his presidency, particularly about his fitness for the office and ability to carry out a second term.
These concerns increased after the first 2024 presidential debate, between Biden and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. Biden's performance was widely criticized, with commentators noting he frequently lost his train of thought and gave meandering answers, had a faltering appearance, spoke with a hoarse voice, and failed to recall statistics or coherently express his opinion on several occasions.[2] Biden subsequently faced calls to withdraw from the race from fellow Democrats[3] and from the editorial boards of major news outlets.[4][5] By July 19, 2024, more than 30 senior Democrats had called for him to withdraw.[6]
Biden repeatedly insisted for weeks after the debate that he would remain a candidate, despite numerous calls for him to withdraw.[7] However, on July 21, 2024, he withdrew his candidacy via a signed letter posted on his personal Twitter account, writing that this was "in the best interest of my party and the country", while stating that he would continue serving as president until the conclusion of his term.[8] Biden was the first incumbent president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 to withdraw from a reelection race, the first since the 19th century to withdraw after serving only one term,[a] and the only one to withdraw after already winning the primaries.[9][11]
Historically, most sitting U.S. presidents who completed one full term chose to run for a second. The following presidents were eligible for reelection after completing at least one full term in office, but chose not to run:[12]
James K. Polk (in office 1845–1849): kept campaign promise to serve only one term
James Buchanan (in office 1857–1861): kept campaign promise to serve only one term
Rutherford B. Hayes (in office 1877–1881): kept campaign promise to serve only one term
Theodore Roosevelt (in office 1901–1909): kept campaign promise to serve only one full term (after serving one partial term)[b]
Passed by Congress in 1947 and ratified by the states in 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution imposes a limit of two full terms on presidents.[c] Prior to the term limit, many (though not all) presidents followed an informal two-term tradition after a precedent set by George Washington, who chose not to run for re-election after serving two terms.
Biden as a bridge candidate
During the 2020 presidential election, Biden pitched himself as a 'bridge' candidate to a new generation of leadership.[13] However, he denied Politico's claims that he was considering a one-term pledge.[14] As Biden's campaign faltered in 2024, Axios quoted scholar Anthony Fowler as having said, "You could argue [back in 2020] he's trying to kind of have it both ways. He's trying to kind of tell people, 'Don't worry, I'm only running for one term,' without ever actually explicitly promising that".[15]
Biden was 78 years old at his inauguration, making him the oldest individual to assume the presidency.[16] Biden was also older when he assumed the office than Ronald Reagan, the previous oldest, had been when leaving it.[d]Health concerns surrounding Biden emerged during his presidency, primarily about his age and ability to carry out a second term. In a report in the Journal on Active Aging, doctors noted he had an "exceptional health profile" relative to his age, and a medical assessment performed by physician Kevin O'Connor attested to his physical acuity.[18]The Washington Post's Dan Zak described the U.S. government as a "gerontocracy" with Biden's inauguration.[19] On July 28, 2022, U.S. Representative Dean Phillips became the first incumbent Democratic member of Congress to say President Biden should not run for re-election and called for "generational change," pointing to Biden's age.[20]
In July 2024, The New York Times reported that Kevin Cannard, a neurologist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center specializing in movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, visited the White House eight times within the last eight months, including a meeting with Biden's physician.[21] The report generated controversy as O'Connor challenged it, citing Cannard's appearances during Barack Obama's administration and personnel within the White House who suffer from neurological disorders.[22]
On April 25, 2023, after months of speculation,[23][24] Biden confirmed he would run for reelection as president in the 2024 presidential election, with Vice President Kamala Harris again as his running mate. The campaign launched four years to the day after the start of his 2020 presidential campaign.[1] On the day of his announcement, a Gallup poll found that Biden's approval rating was 37%, with most of those surveyed saying the economy was their biggest concern.[25] During his campaign, Biden promoted higher economic growth and recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.[26][27] He frequently stated his intention to "finish the job" as a political rallying cry.[1][28][29]
Biden made protecting American democracy a central focus of his campaign,[30][31] along with restoring the federal right to abortion following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.[32] He also intended to increase funding for border patrol and security[32][33] and increase funding for law enforcement coupled with police reform.[34] Biden promised to support, protect and expand LGBT rights,[32] and frequently touted his previous passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark investment to combat climate change.[35][36][37]
Biden made strengthening U.S. alliances a key goal of his foreign policy[38] and promised to continue supporting Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country and Israel following their war with Hamas, describing them as "vital" to U.S. national security interests. Biden promised to continue efforts to tackle gun violence and defend the Affordable Care Act following comments from Donald Trump suggesting Trump would repeal the law.[39][32] Biden proposed increasing taxes on the wealthy through a "billionaire minimum income tax" to reduce the deficit and fund social services for the poor.[40][32]
Biden's trade policy was described as rejecting traditional neoliberal economic policy and the Washington Consensus that resulted in the offshoring of manufacturing and thus resulted in increased populist backlash.[41] Biden proposed and enacted targeted tariffs against strategic Chinese industries to protect manufacturing jobs and counter China's technological and military ambitions.[42] Biden faced opposition from Representative Dean Phillips during the 2024 Democratic party primaries. Phillips argued during his campaign that Biden would be a weak general election candidate due to concerns about his age and low approval ratings.[43][44] Biden was not on the ballot in the January 23 New Hampshire primary, but he won it in a write-in campaign with 63.8% of the vote. He had wanted South Carolina to be the first primary, and won that state on February 3 with 96.2% of the vote.[45] Biden received 89.3% of the vote in Nevada.
Biden received 81.1% of the vote in Michigan, with "None of These Candidates" and "uncommitted" coming in second in each state, respectively. On March 5 ("Super Tuesday"), he won 15 of 16 primaries, netting 80% or more of the vote in 13 of them.[49][50] On March 12, Biden reached more than the 1,968 delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, becoming the presumptive nominee.[51][52]
Biden and Trump faced each other in a televised debate on June 27, 2024. Biden's performance in particular was criticized, in which he had a faltering appearance and spoke with a hoarse voice, and failed to recall statistics or coherently express his opinion on several occasions.[53] Trump was declared the winner of the debate by columnists from The Hill,[54]CNN,[55]Politico,[56]The New York Times,[57]USA Today,[58]Business Insider,[59] and Vox.[60] Columnists from MSNBC,[61]The Cook Political Report,[62]The Guardian,[63] and the Los Angeles Times argued that while Trump did not win the debate, Biden "clearly lost".[64] Polling also indicated the majority of the public believed Trump won.[65] Following Biden's performance at the debate, many Democrats were described as being sent "into a panic"[53] and called for him to withdraw from the race, leading to political turmoil within the party that the media referred to as the "Biden crisis".[e]
Debate aftermath
On July 3, twenty Democratic governors met with Biden at the White House and virtually to discuss the debate's effect on his campaign.[69] Following the meeting, Governors Wes Moore of Maryland, Kathy Hochul of New York, and Tim Walz of Minnesota spoke to the press outside of the White House, with Walz specifically admitting that "Thursday night was a bad performance" and a "bad hit".[70]
On July 17, ABC News reported that House minority leaderHakeem Jeffries and Senate majority leaderChuck Schumer had met with Biden on July 12 and 13, respectively, and had expressed concerns to Biden about Democratic losses in Congress.[71] Biden reportedly told Schumer that he needed another week to make a decision.[72]Jeffrey Katzenberg, a campaign co-chairman, reportedly warned Biden on July 17 that donors were withholding donations to his campaign, although Katzenberg disputed that characterization of their discussion.[73]
That evening, Biden tested positive for COVID-19.[74] He experienced mild symptoms, including a cough, runny nose, and "general malaise".[75] However, images of him looking frail exiting from Air Force One on the way to isolation at his residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, fueled further speculation over his health.[76]The New York Times reported that Biden was "more receptive" to withdrawing his nomination.[77] In phone conversations, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi told Biden she was pessimistic about his candidacy.[78] On July 18, Axios reported that Democrats believed Biden would exit the election, citing pressure from Jeffries and Schumer, internal polling, and criticism.[79]The New York Times reported that day that Biden was considering that he may have to withdraw.[80]CNN reported that on July 20, Biden met with advisors Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon, during which they concluded that worsening poll numbers and a loss of party support had left the campaign without a plausible strategy to recover.[81] That evening, Biden began planning a possible exit from the race with Ricchetti, Donilon, and other close aides, and he fully committed to the decision on the morning of July 21.[82][83]
Prior to Biden's withdrawal, the word Joever, a portmanteau of Joe and over, was used by critics and media to describe the state of Biden's campaign.[f] Though the word was first coined in a meme on 4chan's /pol/ imageboard in 2020, the word's usage in social media posts and major media stories increased significantly following the debate.[89]
Biden campaign reactions
The Biden campaign initially attempted to push past the criticism and continue on to the nomination. It attempted to reduce the tenacity of comments seeking Biden's withdrawal until he could be formally nominated in a virtual roll call vote prior to the Democratic National Convention, which was described as in effect "running out the clock".[90]
In response to criticisms following the debate, Biden announced several progressive policies,[91] including Supreme Court reform to impose term limits and a binding code of ethics, a constitutional amendment to institute prosecutorial authority for presidential actions, a national assault weapons ban, and limiting rent increases.[92]
Biden's withdrawal and replacement
Biden addressing his withdrawal, July 24, 2024A Biden/Harris yard sign with Biden's name removed, in Oakland, CA, the day after Biden withdrew
On July 21, Biden's official Twitter account posted a letter announcing his withdrawal. In the letter, he wrote, "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 my duties as President for the remainder of my term".[93] Nearly 30 minutes after, a post from the same account endorsed Harris, the vice president since 2021, as his replacement in the presidential race.[94][95]
On July 24, 2024, in his first appearance since withdrawing from the presidential race, President Biden explained his decision. Speaking from the Oval Office, he stated that his reason was the "defense of democracy". Addressing the presidential campaigns, he remarked, "America's going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division".[96][97]
Biden's pledged delegates were released by his resignation from the race. A candidate who receives 300 signatures from delegates will appear on the convention ballot. A candidate must receive a majority of delegate votes at the convention to become the nominee; if no candidate initially receives a majority of votes, an additional 700 superdelegates are permitted to vote on a candidate.[98] Biden's endorsement of Harris notwithstanding, Democratic National Committee rules do not require these delegates to follow his recommendation and support his selected successor.[99]
In a survey of delegates by the Associated Press on July 22, 2024, Harris became the presumptive nominee after receiving pledges from more than half of the delegates.[100] On August 6, Harris was officially certified as the Democratic presidential nominee after securing 99% of delegates voting in a virtual roll call vote.[101]
After Trump's victory in the 2024 election, Jon Favreau of Pod Save America reported that internal polls by Biden's campaign before his withdrawal found that Trump would win 400 electoral votes against Biden.[102]
Former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama praised Biden's work as president, with Obama writing that "Joe Biden has been one of America's most consequential presidents" and that Biden "wouldn't make this decision unless he believed it was right for America".[103] Many Democrats praised Biden's decision as "selfless", such as South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, Obama advisor David Axelrod, and Ohio Congressman Greg Landsman, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer writing that Biden "once again put his country, his party, and our future first" over himself.[104] Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did the same and endorsed Harris.[105]
Following the announcement of Biden's withdrawal, Trump released a statement on Truth Social, his social media platform, arguing that his former opponent "was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve", calling him "the worst president, by far, in the history of our nation".[106] Trump's re-election campaign had prepared opposition research dossiers on Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro. The campaign intended to release messaging critical of Harris at the Republican National Convention, but ultimately decided against it.[107]
Trump complained about Biden's withdrawal in a July 21 Truth Social post and requested that the Republican Party should be reimbursed for the money they spent campaigning against Biden.[108] Trump also compared the Democratic Party's support of replacing Biden to a "coup".[109] Trump's language of "coup" was widely imitated by other Republican politicians and strategists[110] and in an op-ed by Josh Hammer, a senior editor of Newsweek.[111]
International response
Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Biden, saying he "has presided over an economy that has seen jobs grow, that has seen wages increase, and that has seen the transition proceed that is occurring as the world moves towards net zero. As well as he's standing up on issues such as gender equality. President Biden has been a great friend of Australia and that will continue",[112] also stating that the "Australia–US Alliance has never been stronger with our shared commitment to democratic values, international security, economic prosperity and climate action for this and future generations".[113]
Brazil: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said of Biden, "Only he could decide whether or not he would be a candidate" and "...Brazil's relationship will be with whoever is elected".[114]
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "I've known President Biden for years. He's a great man, and everything he does is guided by his love for his country. As President, he is a partner to Canadians—and a true friend. To President Biden and the First Lady: thank you".[115][116]
China: At a regular press briefing on July 22, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declined to comment, and said the "presidential election is an internal affair of the United States".[117][118]
Czech Republic: Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated: "It is undoubtedly the decision of a statesman who has served his country for decades. It is a responsible and personally difficult step, but it is all the more valuable. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the USA that a good president emerges from the democratic competition of two strong and equal candidates".[112][113]
France: In a letter, President Emmanuel Macron praised Biden's "courage, spirit of responsibility and sense of duty that led [him] to this decision".[119][120]
Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted a statement on Twitter, stating "Joe Biden has achieved a great deal: for his country, for Europe, for the world... Thanks to him, transatlantic cooperation is close, NATO is strong and the USA is a good and reliable partner for us. His decision not to run again deserves recognition".[112][113]
Ireland: In a statement, TaoiseachSimon Harris issued thanks to Biden, saying: "On behalf of the people and government of Ireland. I ... would like to thank you Mr President for your global leadership and your friendship as you make your announcement that you will not stand in the 2024 US Presidential election... Joe Biden, in all the offices he has held, has always been an unwavering voice and passionate worker for peace on the island of Ireland and our country owes him a great debt for this".[112]TánaisteMicheál Martin said he heard of Biden's decision "with both sadness and admiration... This has no doubt been the toughest of calls, but one done, as ever, with dignity & class. I know that the people of Ireland will wish President Biden the very best".[113]
Israel: President Isaac Herzog thanked Biden "for his friendship and steadfast support for the Israeli people over his decades long career",[121] in a statement on social media,[122] continuing: "As the first US President to visit Israel in wartime, as a recipient of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, and as a true ally of the Jewish people, he is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our two peoples".[113][116] Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said: "Thank you President Joe Biden, for your unwavering support of Israel over the years. Your steadfast backing, especially during the war, has been invaluable. We are grateful for your leadership and friendship".[112]
Japan: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Biden made the best political decision and that, "Needless to say, the Japan–U.S. alliance is the pillar of Japan's diplomacy and security, so we'll closely watch the future developments".[112]
Mexico: President Andrés Manuel López Obrador described Biden as a "good leader" with "very good results". He added: "Politically, he makes the decision not to participate in reelection, that is up to those who are members of the Democratic Party to decide, we are going to continue seeking to maintain a good relationship with the United States government".[123]
New Zealand: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated: "President Biden has dedicated his life to public service, and that is something that deserves much respect. I thank the President for his leadership of the United States and his commitment to New Zealand. And I look forward to working with him for the remainder of his presidency".[112][113]
Norway: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told Reuters: "I respect President Joe Biden's decision not to run for re-election. He justifies the decision by saying that he wants to put the country before himself. That reasoning commands respect... Joe Biden has been one of America's most prominent politicians over several decades, and a president who has carried out several important reforms. I particularly commend him for his leadership in NATO and look forward to working with Biden as the president of the United States until the end of January".[112]
Philippines: President Bongbong Marcos described Biden's withdrawal as "a demonstration of genuine statesmanship" and thanked him for his "constant and unwavering support for the Philippines in a delicate and difficult time".[124]
Poland: Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X: "Mr. President @JoeBiden, many times you have made difficult decisions that have made Poland, America, and the world safer, and democracy and freedom stronger. I know that you were guided by the same principles when announcing your latest decision. Perhaps the most difficult one in your life".[112]
Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on X stated: "All my admiration and recognition for the brave and dignified decision of the president @JoeBiden. Thanks to its determination and leadership, the US overcame the economic crisis after the pandemic and the serious assault on the Capitol and has been exemplary in its support for Ukraine in the face of Putin's Russian aggression. A great gesture from a great president who has always fought for democracy and freedom".[112]
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude on behalf of Ukraine for Biden's "unwavering support for Ukraine's fight for freedom", and that "[m]any strong decisions have been made in recent years and they will be remembered as bold steps taken by President Biden in response to challenging times. And we respect today's tough but strong decision."[125][115]
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer published a statement on Twitter, saying that he respects Biden's decision to drop out, and looks forward to working with him during the remainder of his presidency.[126] Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also remarked on Biden's accomplishments and wished him well.[127]
Venezuela: President Nicolás Maduro said at a campaign event that Biden "made the most sensible and correct decision ... He prioritized his family and his health. He realized that at that age and with weakened health he could not assume the reins of his country, let alone a presidential candidacy".[112]
Notes
^All three incumbents in the 20th century to withdraw or not seek reelection—Calvin Coolidge, Harry S. Truman, and Lyndon B. Johnson—had succeeded to the presidency when their predecessor died, then won a full term in their own right.[9] Three presidents in the 1800s made and kept pledges to serve only one term, most recently Rutherford B. Hayes.[10]
^A grandfather clause exemption was made for the president serving when the amendment was passed by Congress; the president at the time was Truman. Johnson was eligible for a third term because his first term, in which he replaced John F. Kennedy after the latter's assassination, lasted less than two years.
^While Trump was older than Reagan at the ages they became president, Reagan served two terms to Trump's one and was, until Biden, the president who was oldest at any point in their presidency.[17]
^Allsop, Jon (July 12, 2024). "The Biden Rorschach test". Columbia Journalism Review. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024. In the real world, my girlfriend asked me, 'Is it Joever'?
^"拜登退选 中方回应" [Biden withdraws from the election, China responds]. China News Network - Comprehensive world news (in Chinese). July 22, 2024. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
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