(AP) – President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a debate with Donald Trump that was said to have raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.
The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate.
Biden says he plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon Jan. 20, 2025.
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Biden’s decision to leave the race.
“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,” Biden wrote in a letter posted to his X account.
He did not immediately throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s instant favorite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago.