US President Joe Biden is not running for re-election – supports Harris

– It has been my intention to seek re-election, but I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country to step down and only focus on fulfilling my duties as president until the end of my term, writes Biden X.

He adds that he will address the nation during the week.

Biden did not immediately point out who he wants as a replacement, but a few minutes later a message followed in which he writes that he supports Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrats’ candidate.

– I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party, unite the country – and beat Donald Trump, was the answer from Harris in a statement a few hours later.

Not everyone is expressing support for Harris

From the Democrats’ side, there are supportive reactions that pay tribute to Biden’s more than 50 years in American national politics and what he has done as president. Former President Barack Obama calls him “a patriot of the highest caliber.”

Many have already come out in support of Harris, including a number of members of Congress and two heavy election campaign funds (Super PACs). Ex-president Bill Clinton and his wife and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who still have great influence in the party, have also come out in support of the vice-president.

But not everyone has closed ranks about the vice president. Among them are Obama and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who does not say anything about Harris in her statements. Nor does the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, or in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, mention the vice president.

Harris or Governor?

Now that Biden has withdrawn as a candidate, the delegates must vote on a new candidate at the Democratic National Convention, which begins in Chicago on August 19. Harris is considered the hottest candidate, partly because she can “inherit” the 91 million dollars collected for Biden’s election campaign this autumn.

Among other names that have been mentioned are a number of governors: Gavin Newsom (California), Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), JB Pritzker (Illinois) and Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania).

In the statement, Biden boasts, among other things, of his economic policy, health policy and climate policy.

– I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together we got through a centennial pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Depression. We have protected and safeguarded our democracy, and we have revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.

Weak TV debate

Biden has been President of the United States since January 20, 2021, after defeating his predecessor Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

He is the first sitting president since 1968 not to seek re-election even though he had the opportunity to do so. Lyndon Johnson then chose to resign, partly because of the Vietnam War which divided the country.

Since a televised debate against Trump on June 27, pressure on Biden has increased, as many Democrats believe he is no longer capable of winning the election. Biden’s age (81) and state of health make up much of the background, and Biden is already America’s oldest president of all time. A large proportion of the Democrats’ voters also say they think he should resign.

In the debate, Biden apparently struggled to follow along and complete his sentences, which became the main focus afterwards, despite a series of unfounded and false claims from Trump.

Republicans are cheering

Donald Trump was quick to cheer for Biden’s resignation, and told CNN that he thinks Harris will be easier to beat than Biden. On his own social network, Truth Social, he claimed that Biden is not fit to run for re-election, and was never fit to be president.

Trump’s party colleague and leader of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, claims that Biden cannot continue as president if he cannot be a candidate.

From the world’s leaders, there have mostly been respectful and laudatory reactions. Many thank Biden for the efforts he has made for the relationship between the United States and their country.