Read President Joe Biden’s statement on his withdrawal from the 2024 election

The decision came after multiple calls for the president to withdraw from the race, following a poor performance at the debate and questions about his age, which he had piggybacked on throughout his presidency.

“I believe it is in the best interests of my party and the country that I step down and focus the remainder of my term solely on fulfilling the duties of my president,” Biden said in the statement.

With this announcement, Biden becomes the first sitting president not to seek re-election since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.