In a note posted to Instagram and Twitter, current President Joe Biden has officially announced that he will be stepping down as the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election.
“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,” the note read.
While no other logistical information has been shared via the note, it did specify that Biden would address the nation on the topic later this week.
The note also included some of Biden’s accomplishments as President, including references to legislation passed and investments made.
A second post to his social media announced that Biden would be endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee.
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“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” Biden wrote.
The announcement, coming after Biden and his team reported that he contracted COVID-19 earlier this week, opens the 2024 presidential ticket for a new democratic nominee to enter the race.
While no further information has been shared about who the new candidate will be, Biden dropping out of the election has come after pressure from fellow elected officials in his party, such as Montana Senator Jon Tester and New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich.
This also comes after former President Donald Trump officially accepted his role as the Republican nominee in a speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday following a failed assassination attempt.
Biden closed the note saying, “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.”
