US 46th President, Joe Biden, has explained that it is in the best interest of his party and his country for him to withdraw from the November 4 presidential election.
He noted that he will focus solely on fulfilling his duties as president for the remainder of his term.
Biden announced his withdrawal from the race for a second term in the coming election on Sunday.
He said: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. While I have intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
His decision to step down as the Democratic Party candidate to run against former President Donald Trump comes amid heightened calls by Democrats, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
Full speech:
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 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. 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.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. While I have intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and 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.
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.
