WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday made a solemn appeal to voters to defend the country’s democracy as he explained from the Oval Office his decision not to seek reelection and instead support Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden used his first public statement since announcing his departure on Sunday to repudiate Donald Trump, although he did not refer directly to him, whom he has called an existential threat to democracy.
Biden has ignored the political reality that has brought him to this point: his dismal performance in a debate against Trump nearly a month ago, in which he spoke haltingly, looked haggard and failed to counter his predecessor’s attacks, sparking a crisis of confidence within the Democratic Party.
Lawmakers and voters were asking not only whether he could beat Trump in November, but also whether, at 81, he was still fit for such a high-pressure job.
“I have decided that the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for “younger voices.”
He added: “It is the best way to unite our nation.”
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2024-08-03 04:41:00
