Biden ends bid for second term in White House, endorses Kamala Harris
President Biden has decided to drop out of the 2024 race, announcing on X that he made the decision "in the best interest of my party and the country." Biden had come under increased pressure to drop out of the race over the last few days.
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RFK Jr says this is '2-man race' after Biden drops presidential bid
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the contest for the White House is a "two-man race" and that only he can beat Donald Trump after President Biden's shocking withdrawal from a second-term bid.
Speaking Sunday at a hastily called press conference from his family's storied compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, Kennedy praised Biden while simultaneously blaming Democratic Party leaders for "hiding" his mental decline.
"I want to begin by commending President Biden for a career in public service: a long, long career and representing and serving our country and for his handling of the many difficulties and challenges, personal challenges and tragedies that he suffered during his life with so much admirable conduct and the empathy that he derives from those experiences," Kennedy said.
Kennedy, who left the party his family once ruled after it blocked his bid to challenge Biden in primaries, said the Democratic National Committee created a mess by covering for Biden.
"The reaction of the DNC to that obvious condition was to hide it from the American public and to use their power over the Democratic Party nomination process to make sure that nobody could compete with President Biden in a way that would expose his deficiencies," Kennedy argued.
Kennedy continued his campaign as an independent, and he has reached double-digits in some polls on a platform that decries "corporate capture," the affordability crisis, and "forever wars," according to his campaign website.
Kennedy also called out former President Trump as well as Vice President Harris, who appears poised to head the Democrat ticket.
"President Trump has a connection to the American people, a populist connection," said Kennedy. "But in many ways, it's the same fraudulent connection that we saw with the DNC over the past year, concealing a real purpose of their objective, which was to give us a president that … represents corporate interests rather than the interests of the American public."
"If the Democrats do what I suspect they're going to do, which is to anoint Kamala Harris, a vice president who is monumentally unpopular within her own party … they're doing it because it's the easiest way to hold on to the money," Kennedy said.
Fox News' Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.
DNC Rules Committee meeting slated for Wednesday to determine process for choosing new nominee
The Democratic National Committee's Rules Committee will hold a meeting on Wednesday to create a process for selecting a new presidential nominee to replace President Biden, according to Bloomberg.
Biden announced Sunday afternoon that he is dropping his re-election campaign.
Later on Sunday, Vice President Harris launched her campaign for president.
The DNC's meeting will be open to the public.
Democrat Rep. Boyle says Biden called to thank him for his friendship, support; endorses Harris
Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., said President Biden called him and "graciously" thanked him for his friendship and strong support.
Biden announced Sunday afternoon he is dropping his re-election campaign.
"Earlier this evening President Biden called me and we had a good conversation," Boyle wrote on the social media platform X. "He graciously thanked me for my friendship and strong support. Says a lot about the man that, even on this day, he's calling his friends to say thanks."
Boyle said earlier on Sunday following Biden's announcement that the president is a "patriot" who "selflessly put personal ambition aside to do what he thinks is best for our country."
"Today, and every day, both in dark passages and bright days, I am always proud to be one of Joe Biden’s biggest supporters," Boyle wrote.
The congressman said in another post that "No President in my lifetime achieved more in a single term" than Biden.
Boyle also said he supports Vice President Harris' presidential campaign.
"As I said earlier this afternoon on @KYWNewsradio I strongly support @KamalaHarris for President," he wrote on X. "She's an enormously talented and accomplished leader who will prosecute the case against Donald Trump. Now is the time for all Democrats to unite, fight, and win. #Harris2024."
Michigan Democratic Party chair endorses Kamala Harris for president: 'I am fired up'
Michigan Democratic Party chair Lavora Barnes said she is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
This comes after President Biden announced he is dropping his re-election campaign.
"I am fired up and ready to elect Vice President Harris this November as she works tirelessly to defend our democracy and defeat Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda," Barnes said in a statement.
"Kamala Harris has spent her entire career working to protect the rights and freedoms of Americans," Barnes continued. "As a prosecutor, a United States senator, and now, as the country’s first Black woman vice president, she has never backed down from a fight. In a moment where our reproductive freedom and the very basis of our democracy are on the line, Vice President Harris will lead the Democratic Party to victory this November."
Barnes said Michigan Democrats have "built world-class campaign infrastructure on the ground" and "haven't skipped a beat," adding that they have been "knocking doors and making calls, reminding voters of the threat that another Trump presidency poses."
"With a champion for Michiganders like Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket, I am confident that Michigan will once again deliver for Democrats up and down the ballot.," Barnes concluded.
Top Biden donor John Morgan won't fundraise for Kamala Harris: 'You have to be enthusiastic'
A top donor to President Biden's campaign will not fundraise for Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign after Biden dropped his re-election bid on Sunday.
John Morgan told ABC News: "If Trump World could pick anybody to run against, I think they pick her."
Morgan followed up in a post on the social media platform X.
"You have to be enthusiastic or hoping for a political appointment to be asking friends for money," he wrote. "I am neither."
"It's others turn now," Morgan continued. "The donors holding the 90 million can release those funds in the morning. It's all yours. You can keep my million. And good luck."
Grassroots supporters raised nearly $50M after Kamala Harris launches presidential bid
Grassroots supporters have raised close to $50 million after Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign, according to ActBlue, a fundraising platform for Democrat campaigns.
This comes after President Biden announced Sunday afternoon that he is dropping out of the presidential race.
As of 9 p.m., the grassroots supporters raised $46.7 million through ActBlue following Harris' campaign launch, the biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle, ActBlue wrote on the social media platform X.
"Small-dollar donors are fired up and ready to take on this election," the group wrote.
ActBlue is on pace to break the record for a single 24-hour period of fundraising in political history.
By comparison, former President Trump's campaign announced after his conviction in his criminal trial in New York City that they hauled in nearly $53 million through their online digital fundraising platform in the first 24 hours.
Kamala Harris' rapid response page now on social media platform X to support presidential campaign
Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign is now on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after President Biden dropped his re-election campaign.
The rapid response page is called Kamala HQ.
"Welcome to Kamala HQ," the page wrote. "This is the official rapid response page of Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign."
Service Employees International Union endorses Vice President: 'ALL IN for Kamala Harris'
One of the largest labor unions in the world, the Service Employees International Union or SEIU, announced their endorsement of Kamala Harris for President via X Sunday.
Verrett's endorsement described Harris as "the candidate who can beat Donald Trump" as well as the one who can "finish the job that we started under the Biden-Harris administration."
SEIU in the statement claimed to represent working people, saying "working people are clear: Vice President Harris is the leader who has their back. SEIU is ALL IN for Kamala Harris."
Besides labor issues, the endorsement of Harris also cites her "powerful and steady voice defending our reproductive freedom" and a "humane and orderly immigration system."
The SEIU finished their endorsement of Harris by calling out former President Donald Trump and his "MAGA future."
"We certainly cannot risk a President who seeks to be a dictator from Day One and whose racist, sexist and anti-worker agenda is clearly outlined in Project 2025," Verrett claimed.
SEIU represents nearly 2 million workers in the United States and Canada.
Trump team releases mocking 'Inspiring Thoughts from Kamala Harris' ad
Hours after Vice President Kamala Harris announced her intent to run for president, former President Trump's team published an ad that ridiculed her past gaffes.
Trump senior advisor Dan Scavino, Jr. posted the ad on X with the title: "Inspiring Thoughts from Kamala Harris".
The video lampoons the vice president for statements she's made in the past that critics have interpreted as bizarre or oddly-phrased.
One of the quotes from Harris was: "The significance of the passage of time, right? The significance of the passage of time. So when you think about it, there is great significance to the passage of time...there is such great significance to the passage of time."
Another Harris gaffe read: "It’s time for us to do what we have been doing, and that time is every day."
"I can imagine what will be, unburdened by what has been," is another Harris statement that the video quotes.
NY Gov. Hochul endorses Harris, calls Trump 'greatest threat to America'
Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential bid, saying it is time for Democrats to unite and stop former President Trump.
“As Democrats, our mission remains the same: doing everything in our power to defeat Donald Trump. When President Biden picked Kamala Harris to be his Vice President he unleashed incredible excitement for a new generation of political leadership,” Hochul said in a press release. That same energy will carry us to November 5 with Vice President Harris leading our ticket.
“Kamala is a champion of justice who will fight every single day for a woman’s right to choose, for middle class families, and for the integrity of our democracy,” she added. “I am confident she will deliver for New Yorkers and am proud to stand beside her. Now it’s time for Democrats to unite and work together to stop the greatest threat to America – Donald Trump.”
Before endorsing Harris, Hochul also praised Biden as “a true statesman” and “one of the greatest champions” for working families.
“Joe Biden is an American hero, a true statesman and one of the greatest champions working families have ever known. His decision to pass the torch required great courage, patriotism, and the sort of perspective one only gains after fifty years of dedicated public service at the highest level,” Hochul said. “I extend my deepest gratitude to President Biden whose accomplishments and leadership make him one of the most effective Presidents in American history.”
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm endorses Harris, says to 'keep up the momentum'
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in a social media post on Sunday.
Granholm, who was appointed by President Biden in 2021, wrote that she is "going to do everything I can to make sure that President @KamalaHarris is able to continue the incredible work of @JoeBiden."
"[C]reating more jobs than any POTUS in history; more people insured than at any time in history; most significant climate laws in history," she described.
Granholm listed more Biden administration wins, which she partially attributed to the vice president.
"[T]hese are all due to the Biden-HARRIS Administration. Let’s keep up the momentum folks!" she concluded.
Pete Buttigieg endorses Kamala Harris for President: 'Will do all that I can'
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris via X Sunday. The former 2020 presidential candidate praised President Biden on the social media platform after his announcement that he will not seek re-election.
"Joe Biden has earned his place among the best and most consequential presidents in our history," said Buttigieg. "Americans are much better off because of his leadership and accomplishments. He always puts our country first, as he demonstrated today, and I know he will continue to do so for the rest of his term."
Buttigieg argued in his statement, "Kamala Harris is now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President."
"I have seen her extraordinary leadership firsthand, working closely with her during the 2020 campaign and then in the historically effective Biden-Harris administration," he added.
"I will do all that I can to help her win this election to lead America forward as our next President," said Buttigieg.
The endorsement was posted to the secretary's personal X account, @PeteButtigieg.
Romney says Biden’s decision to withdraw was right, in best interest of country
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Sunday that President Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race was the right thing to do and was in the best interest of the country.
“I’m a classic Republican and he’s a classic Democrat; obviously, President Biden and I usually didn’t see eye-to-eye,” Romney wrote in a press release. “I opposed many of his initiatives. But we did find common ground on infrastructure, Ukraine, the Electoral Count Act, adding religious liberty protections to the marriage bill, gun safety measures, and chip manufacturing.
“Others will judge his presidency. However, having worked with him these past few years, I respect President Biden. His decision to withdraw from the race was right and is in the best interest of the country,” the senator from Utah wrote. “Ann and I send warm personal wishes to the President and First Lady.”
Fox News’ Kelly Phares contributed to this report.
ActBlue platform raises nearly $28M in hours after Kamala Harris announces campaign
The Democrat fundraising platform ActBlue announced in an X post Sunday a massive haul of contributions from 'small-dollar' donors, raising $27.5M in five hours.
"Small-dollar donors raise over $27.5 million on ActBlue in the first 5 hours of Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign," the post read. "Grassroots supporters are energized and excited to support her as the Democratic nominee."
According to FEC reporting, the Biden-Harris campaign had $91.5M 'cash-on-hand' in June 2024. Vice President Harris is poised to receive those funds after President Biden dropped out of the race Sunday afternoon.
Harris accepted Biden's endorsement Sunday via X, saying "I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorses Kamala Harris for president: 'Democracy at stake'
California Governor Gavin Newsom endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, hours after President Biden announced that he was dropping out of the 2024 race.
Newsom, whose name has been thrown around as a potential contender, commended Harris in a brief social media post on X, describing her as "tough, fearless, [and] tenacious."
"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, @KamalaHarris," Newsom wrote.
Manchin considers re-registering as Democrat to run for president
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is considering re-registering as a Democrat so he can run for president.
Fox News confirmed Manchin, who in May left the Democratic Party and registered as an Independent, said Sunday he is considering re-registering with his original party and running for president.
Manchin said he was considering the party switch and throwing his hat in the ring for President, "Even just to have the discussion of bringing the party back to center," Fox News' Bret Baier posted on X.
Fox News' Aishah Hasnie contributed to this report.
Senator Fetterman calls out 'people with their fingerprints on the blades in our President's back'
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., slammed fellow democrats for turning on President Biden after he dropped out of the 2024 race on Sunday.
Fetterman told Washington Examiner reporter Salena Zito, "Spare me the soaring accolades from people with their fingerprints on the blades in our President's back."
37 Congressional Democrats had called on President Biden to drop out of the 2024 race prior to his announcement.
Harris’ record could mean continuance of Biden’s border policies
The prospect of Vice President Harris becoming president could mean a continuance of President Biden’s policies surrounding the southern border.
In 2018, Harris was a guest on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” when she suggested the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be eliminated, adding, “we probably need to think about starting over from scratch.”
The vice president has repeatedly expressed support to decriminalize illegal immigration, and during the primary campaign cycle in 2020, she raised her hand on stage during the MSNBC debate when moderators said to raise your hand if you support changing illegal entry to a civil offense rather than a criminal offense.
Under the Biden administration, the president assigned Harris to tackle the root causes of migration in the northern triangle countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Also during Biden’s presidency, with Harris as his vice president, the number of illegal crossings at the southern border were the highest ever recorded in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Harris has only visited the border one time during her vice presidency, when she made a sanitized visit to El Paso, Texas, in June 2021.
Harris also pushed the false claim that horseback Border Patrol agents had “whipped” Haitian migrants in Del Rio in September 2021, saying the images reminded her of “slavery.” Neither she nor Biden have apologized to the agents for pushing the false narrative.
Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Speaker Mike Johnson, Republicans call on Biden's resignation after he opts out of the 2024 race
Republican lawmakers are calling on President Biden to resign from office immediately after he announced he will not seek re-election in November.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement, "If Joe Biden is not fit to run for President, he is not fit to serve as President. He must resign the office immediately. November 5 cannot arrive soon enough."
"If the Democrat party has deemed Joe Biden unfit to run for re-election, he's certainly unfit to control our nuclear codes," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said minutes after the bombshell news broke. "Biden must step down from office immediately."
House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., similarly said, "If Joe Biden can’t run for re-election, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States. He must immediately resign. The Democrat Party is in absolute free fall for their blatantly corrupt and desperate attempt to cover up the fact that Joe Biden is unfit for office."
"If Joe Biden is unfit to be the Democrat nominee for president, he’s unfit to be president for the rest of his term. For the good of the country, Joe Biden should resign immediately," said Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern, R-Okla.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind
Mayorkas praises Biden, says he is 'proud' of administration's work on border
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas took to social media to praise President Biden after the president announced he was dropping out of the 2024 race.
"Today and everyday, it is an honor to serve under @POTUS Biden’s leadership," Mayorkas said on X, adding that he is "extraordinarily proud of all that @DHSgov has done to secure our shores, skies, borders, and cyberspace; safeguard the American people from threats old and new; and advance our vital homeland security mission under the President’s leadership."
"Alongside @POTUS Biden, we will continue to use every minute of this Administration to deliver for the American people," Mayorkas added.