President Joe Biden made his first public appearance since ending his bid for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination over the weekend on Wednesday.
In a televised address from the Oval Office, Biden framed his decision to step down as a matter of protecting democracy. “I respect this office, but I love my country more,” the president said. “It has been the honor of my life to serve as your president, but in defending the democracy that is at stake, I believe that is more important than any title.”
“I draw strength and joy from working for the American people, but this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It is about you, your families, and your future,” he continued, before emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election: “I ran for president four years ago because I believed, and I still believe, that the soul of America is at stake. The very nature of our identity is at stake.”
“The great thing about America is here,” he added. “Kings and dictators don’t rule, the people do. History is in your hands, the power is in your hands, the idea of America is in your hands. You just have to keep the faith. Keep the faith, and remember who we are.”
On Sunday, Biden posted a public message on his official social media accounts, writing: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. While it was my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and my country for me to step aside and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
Shortly after the announcement, the president endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor to lead the 2024 Democratic ticket. “My first decision as the party’s nominee in 2020 was to select Kamala Harris as my vice president,” Biden wrote on social media. “It was the best decision I ever made. Today, I want to offer my full support and endorsement to Kamala as our party’s nominee this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and defeat Trump. Let’s do it.”
Harris quickly rallied the support of key Democratic lawmakers and a majority of convention delegates behind her bid. By Monday night, at least 2,579 delegates — more than the 1,976 needed to secure the nomination — had pledged their support for the vice president, making her the presumptive nominee.
“When I announced my campaign for president, I said I intended to go out and earn this nomination,” Harris wrote in a statement Monday. “Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee,” she added. “I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”
Harris is likely to be formally confirmed before the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled to begin on Aug. 19, in a virtual vote sometime in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Harris is raising astronomical sums in small donations and vetting potential candidates who could fill the vice presidential slot on her presumed ticket.
Some of the names under consideration include Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
