Last Updated on October 14, 2026 by Ayoko Francisca Ahite

Joe Biden entered the 2024 presidential race hoping to repeat his victory over Donald Trump. Although Trump had mocked him as “Sleepy Joe” during the 2020 campaign, Biden won that election and believed he could win their rematch.

But his reelection bid faced increasing scrutiny over his age and stamina. The turning point came during the June 27, 2024, debate, when Biden struggled to finish several answers and repeatedly lost his train of thought. The performance alarmed Democratic supporters and intensified questions about his ability to campaign effectively and serve a second term.

Biden initially insisted that he would stay in the race. However, further verbal mistakes complicated his efforts to reassure the public. On July 11, at a NATO event, he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin,” then quickly corrected himself.

As concerns grew, Democratic lawmakers, donors and party leaders increasingly urged him to reconsider his candidacy. What began as criticism of one debate performance became a broader challenge to his campaign’s chances of defeating Trump.

On July 21, Biden announced his withdrawal in a letter shared on X, saying stepping aside served the best interests of his party and the country. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who subsequently became the Democratic presidential nominee.

Biden continued serving as president until his term ended on January 20, 2025.