Why Biden Stepped Down

In a brief prime-time address from the Oval Office, President Biden announced his decision to abandon his re-election bid, despite believing his record and leadership deserved a second term. He emphasized the need for “new voices, fresh voices — yes, younger voices” to lead a new generation of American leadership.

“I revere this office, but I love my country more,” Biden stated in his first speech since passing the torch to Kamala Harris, now the Democrats’ presumptive nominee. “Nothing — nothing — can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.”

Biden did not directly address concerns about his age and health, which contributed to his decision to quit the race. Instead, he pledged to continue working on foreign and domestic policy, aiming to advance his agenda for the next 180 days, even as a lame-duck president.

Former President Donald Trump criticized Harris, calling her a “radical-left lunatic” and “Lyin’ Kamala,” while repeatedly mispronouncing her first name.

Meanwhile, Harris continued her energetic campaign across the country, asserting that Trump wanted to return America to a “dark past.” Her swift success in securing her party’s nomination is documented in a timeline detailing how she achieved this in just 48 hours.

In related news, the F.B.I. director revealed that the gunman in the Trump assassination attempt had researched John F. Kennedy’s assassination and flown a drone near the Trump rally site before the shooting.