On Saturday evening, President Joe Biden, surrounded by a few trusted advisers and First Lady Jill Biden at his vacation home on the Delaware coast, began to accept the reality that his political career might end sooner than expected. The decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race was influenced by a combination of frustration, feelings of betrayal, and declining support.
Sources close to Biden described him as feeling isolated and angry, particularly with allies who had turned against him during this critical time. Despite his anger, Biden recognized that his campaign could not continue amidst slipping poll numbers, dwindling donor support, and increasing pressure from party leaders to step down.
By Saturday night, Biden had come to terms with his decision and informed key figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, and campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon. This was done in separate phone calls, highlighting the tightened circle of advisers and family who had become central to his decision-making process. The news of his withdrawal was made public through a post on X, leaving many, including Democratic National Committee officials and state party chairs, surprised by the abrupt timing.
The lead-up to Biden’s announcement was marked by a series of setbacks, including a disastrous debate performance on June 27 that significantly damaged his campaign. This performance was followed by poor public appearances, donor withdrawals, and calls from elected officials and party figures for him to exit the race. Notably, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders had been vocal about the need for Biden to consider stepping aside.
On Saturday, Biden also had meetings with senior aides Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti to review the bleak polling and the state of his campaign. Although these aides did not explicitly advise him to withdraw, their discussions reinforced Biden’s resolve to end his candidacy. The decision was finalized after a night of reflection.
https://x.com/amuse/status/1815462496607912072?s=46&t=MeYLTapzMduvkZEdyyUDmA
