USA Biden withdraws from US presidential race

US President Joe Biden will no longer run for a second term in the November election. The Democrat announced his withdrawal from the presidential race via social media Instagram, Facebook and X. In recent weeks, the 81-year-old had come under massive pressure within his own party due to his age and mental state. Biden's withdrawal so close to the election is a dramatic turnaround and causes further chaos in an already historic US election year.

"While it was my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to withdraw and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," the Democrat wrote in a written statement. "I will speak more fully to the nation about my decision later this week."

The crisis of recent weeks

Biden came under extreme criticism after a disastrous performance in a televised duel against former President Trump at the end of June. During the exchange of blows, the most powerful man in the world regularly floundered, lost his train of thought, stared into space with his mouth open and was often unable to finish his sentences properly. There had already been reservations about Biden's re-election ambitions within the Democratic Party and among the population due to his age. But after the duel, the debate about Biden's suitability as the Democrats' presidential candidate flared up to a whole new level - and in public.

After the debate, Biden's poll ratings deteriorated significantly once again. And within his own party, one after the other dared to publicly call for Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race. The president himself initially tried to talk his way out of it. He explained his weak performance with fatigue as a result of strenuous trips abroad. He had not listened to his advisors and had overextended himself. At various appearances, he appeared defiant and assured the audience time and again that he would not withdraw. But more slip-ups followed. And in the end, the pressure from within his own ranks became too great.

In recent days, Biden had withdrawn to his private home in Rehoboth Delaware after contracting coronavirus and did not make any public appointments. During his forced break, he now decided to bow to pressure from his party colleagues.

Democrats face mammoth task

The Democrats now have to reshuffle and arrange a successor in the shortest possible time. In recent weeks, Biden's deputy Kamala Harris has increasingly come into focus as a replacement candidate. The 59-year-old has so far remained pale in her vice-presidential role alongside Biden, but has recently received the support of a number of important party members in view of Biden's weakness. The Democrats will officially nominate their presidential candidate at a party conference in Chicago in mid-August.

The Republicans have already officially chosen their presidential candidate Donald Trump at a nomination convention in Milwaukee. Until recently, Biden had repeatedly claimed that he was the only one who could beat Trump.

An election year like no other

Even before this greatest possible complication, this US election year was one that stood out on all levels, especially with regard to the Republican candidate. With Trump, a convicted felon is running for the highest office in the land. The Republican was the first ex-president of the United States to be found guilty in criminal proceedings - for concealing a hush money payment to a porn actress. So far, this has not damaged the 78-year-old's election campaign. There are other criminal proceedings against him - however, these cases are unlikely to go to trial before election day.

The most recent US election year 2020 was already chaotic. Trump did not accept his election defeat against Biden at the time, but instead used drastic means to try to reverse the election result. His campaign culminated in a violent attack by his supporters on the US Capitol, in which several people were killed.