BREAKING: Joe Biden drops out of presidential race, will serve remainder of term

President Joe Biden has dropped out of the presidential race. He made the announcement on X. While he did step out of the race, he did not endorse Kamala Harris. This comes as rumors have swirled that leading Democrats have encouraged him to leave the race in the weeks since his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27.

Biden had been adamant that he would continue the race despite the backlash against him from within his own party. However, the chorus of Dems calling for him to "pass the torch" hit a crescendo over the weekend with a protest outside the White House where voters gathered to encourage him to step aside.

 

"My Fellow Americans," he wrote, "Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. 

"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," he continued. "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 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.

"I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision," he said. That decision did not initially involve endorsing his vice president Kamala Harris, who is second in line to the presidency. Many, including Trump's vice presidential running mate JD Vance, have said that if Biden isn't fit to run in November, he isn't fit to serve until November.

Biden endorsed Harris in a follow up post.

"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.

"I believe today what I 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."

The Pass the Torch protesters said they wanted to make sure Biden knew that it was not just the elites in the party, as Biden had claimed, that were interested in seeing him step aside and allow another candidate to take his place. The DNC had promised to go ahead with a virtual nomination of Biden in advance of their August convention. Biden has not been officially nominated, and the options as to how to choose a successor include an open convention in which delegates are able to nominate the candidate of their choice.

Biden has said that Trump is a "threat to democracy," and it is that alleged "threat" that Democrats are trying to neutralize in having Biden step away and allowing a younger, more vibrant candidate to take his place, whoever that may be. Trump said that just last week he "took a bullet for democracy."

Refresh this page for updates.