Biden Ends Re-Election Bid Amid Concerns Over Mental Acuity; Harris Poised as Potential Successor

US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he will not seek re-election, following a loss of confidence from fellow Democrats regarding his mental acuity and ability to defeat Donald Trump.

In a post on X, Biden expressed his honor in serving as President and his commitment to fulfilling his duties until the end of his term in January 2025. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. 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,” he wrote.

Although Biden’s initial statement did not include an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris, he later expressed support for her. Harris, 59, would make history as the first Black woman to run at the top of a major-party ticket.

The future of the Democratic nomination remains uncertain, with questions about whether senior Democrats will challenge Harris or if the party will open the field for other candidates.