In a stunning move that may completely upend the 2024 US presidential contest, Joe Biden withdrew from the race on Sunday and backed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s contender.

Following a terrible debate performance, the 81-year-old Biden resigned under intense pressure from Democrats, causing unheard-of chaos in the race against Republican Donald Trump.

While recuperating from Covid at his Delaware beach house, Biden wrote in a letter to X, “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 step down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

Biden stated he promised to “speak to the nation in more detail about my decision later this week.”

Later, he said that he was supporting Harris, who is currently running to become the first female commander-in-chief of the United States of America. Harris is the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president in US history.

Speaking on X, Biden stated, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.” “Democrats, let’s band together to defeat Trump. Now let’s get started.

In US history, Biden is the first president to withdraw from a contest thus late and the first to do so due to worries about his mental stability and health.

In a swift response, Trump declared that Biden was neither “fit to run” nor “fit to serve” as president.

Following the shock of the June 27 debate, Biden spent more than three weeks defying calls to resign. At one point, he insisted that only the “Lord Almighty” could persuade him to change his mind.

He conducted a number of interviews and what was touted as a “big boy” press conference to demonstrate his suitability for the position. However, he made further mistakes, such as referring to Harris as “Vice President Trump.”

His demise was sealed by a chorus of voices within his party, led by actor and donor George Clooney and culminating in former president Barack Obama, who called for his resignation.

US was going through a chaotic time. Biden’s diagnosis of COVID-19, which forced him to withdraw from the campaign trail and live in isolation at Rehoboth Beach, signaled the end.

The US election has been tense and tumultuous lately, with Biden’s withdrawal capping the situation. On July 13, Trump withstood an attempted assassination at a campaign rally.

Biden becomes the latest US president to resign after just one term, following Lyndon Johnson in 1968, a year also characterized by political unrest and bloodshed.