U.S. President Joe Biden has decided to withdraw from the presidential election.
In a statement on Sunday, Biden expressed his intention to seek reelection but stated that stepping down was in the best interest of his party and the country.
“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 said.
Calls for the 81-year-old president to withdraw increased following his lackluster performance against Donald Trump in the June 27 presidential debate.
During the debate, Biden occasionally stammered, spoke incoherently, and delivered a slurred speech against Trump, his immediate predecessor, who is aiming to return to the White House.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly had doubts about Biden’s chances of winning the White House again and was deeply involved in discussions regarding the future of Biden’s campaign.
On July 11, Hollywood actor and prominent Democratic fundraiser George Clooney urged Biden to withdraw from the race.
In an opinion piece titled “I love Joe Biden. But we need a new nominee,” Clooney stated that while Biden has won many battles over the past four years, “the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.”
