Here's the list of US presidents who dropped out amid reelection race

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden created a historic moment this weekend by announcing his drop out of 2024 presidential race. However, this is not the first instance of an incumbent president bowing out during a race.

 

Biden, 81, shared the news in a post on X (previously known as Twitter) on Sunday, July 21, stating, among other things, "the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President."

President Joe Biden withdrawn from presidential race

"And 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 stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," the statement went on, before President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.

As the oldest president in US history, Biden has encountered skepticism regarding his capacity to serve an additional term.

His performance in the first 2024 presidential debate, where he appeared to have difficulty countering Trump's falsehoods and articulating his arguments, has intensified concerns about his cognitive health.

How many presidents have withdrawn from election earlier?

While no other sitting president has withdrawn from a reelection bid this late in the campaign, two other incumbents in US history have chosen to end their campaigns instead of seeking reelection.

President Harry S Truman withdrew from the 1952 election in March, during his second term, PEOPLE reported.

Despite the ratification of the 22nd amendment a year earlier, which limits a President to two terms, Truman was still eligible for a third term due to the specific wording of the amendment, as explained by the National Constitution Center.

Toward the end of his second term, President Truman's popularity sharply declined.

Many voters and critics pointed to their dissatisfaction with the Korean War and various scandals as reasons for not supporting him in that year's Democratic primary, as noted by the Harry S Truman Library.

Following his failure to secure a majority of votes in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary in early March 1952, Truman declared his withdrawal from the race later that month.

The Democratic Party nominated Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois, who was defeated in the election by President Dwight Eisenhower.

Moreover, President Lyndon B Johnson withdrew from the 1968 election on March 31, due to a significant decline in his approval ratings amidst the Vietnam War.

Despite his initial intentions to pursue a second term and widespread expectations of his securing the Democratic nomination, the escalating unpopularity of the war led him to decide otherwise.

With 295 days remaining in his term, he declared in a televised speech that he would not seek reelection.

 

In 1968, Vice President Hubert Humphrey secured the Democratic nomination but was defeated by Republican Richard Nixon in the presidential election.

Kamala Harris expressed gratitude to Joe Biden for his presidential tenure

While numerous questions persist regarding the 2024 presidential election's outlook — such as who will clinch the Democratic nomination, the potential Democratic vice-presidential candidate, or Vice President Kamala Harris's involvement in the campaign — several Democratic leaders have publicly endorsed their preferred candidates.

Meanwhile, Republicans, including ex-President Donald Trump, have expressed enthusiasm over Biden's departure from the contest.

Harris expressed her gratitude to Biden for his presidential tenure and appeared to reassert her determination to secure the Democratic nomination.

“With this selfless and patriotic act, President Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else," she wrote in the statement.

 

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination," she continued. "... I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."

Internet expresses support for Joe Biden's health

As soon as the news of Biden's withdrawl surfaced the Facebook, users started reacting to it. A user wrote, "Your health is more important than being President get rest and get well and be with your family God bless you."

Another user added, "Thank you Mr President for your service to this country and congratulation to a former prosecutor and US Senator for being chosen as the next presidential candidate. Looking forward to the next presidential debate."

The third commentator wrote, "He didn’t just drop out, he was forced to drop out. I think it was the right thing for him to do, but if he should have done it a long time ago."

"It takes an incredible amount of character, and guts, to pull out of the race. Good for him, for doing what is best for him and his family. A class act," one wrote.

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