Overview

Joe Biden Dropping Out Of 2024 Presidential Election refers to United States President Joe Biden dropping out of the 2024 United States Presidential Election. Speculation surrounding Biden's continued campaign for reelection ramped up after his contentious performance in the CNN Presidential Debate in late June 2024, which raised questions about his age and mental ability to serve a second term. It was buoyed by calls for Biden to drop out from Democratic politicians and influential celebrities, among many online. On July 21st, 2024, Biden announced on Twitter / X that he would not seek reelection. He also endorsed Kamala Harris to be the new nominee.

Background

President Joe Biden swept the 2024 Democratic Primary, earning the spot as the presumptive Democratic nominee, though he didn't face a serious challenge from other candidates.^[1] On June 27th, 2024, he appeared on CNN to debate Donald Trump. His performance alarmed numerous viewers, as many felt he appeared senile or unfit to run for a second term.

During the debate and immediately afterward, discussion about whether Biden should drop out began circulating on social media. That night, several users on social media began suggesting Vice President Kamala Harris should take the place of Biden as the nominee (example shown below), in addition to many other candidates like California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Developments

Pre-Drop Out Speculation

Over the following days, the fallout of the first presidential debate showed in the polls and among the Democratic Party. Post-debate, Biden saw significant drops in the polls, falling several points behind Donald Trump nationally and in key swing states.^[2]

In late June and early July 2024, Biden began facing public pressure from within his party to drop out of the race, some of whom did so publically and others were reported to have said so privately.

On July 3rd, 2024, Biden vowed in a call with a campaign staff that he would stay in the race, saying, "Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can and as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running. I'm the nominee of the Democratic Party. No one's pushing me out. I'm not leaving."

Over the following week, however, calls intensified for Biden to leave the race. On July 10th, 2024, U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi appeared noncommittal about Biden staying in the race during a public appearance on Morning Joe, saying, "It’s up to the President to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short."^[4] The same day, actor George Clooney, an outspoken Democrat, published an op-ed in the New York Times^[5] saying Biden needed to step down.

one full minute of unhinged reporters yelling “george clooney” at bidenwho is obviously the most important person we should be talking about at the nato summitpic.twitter.com/MGZDwnvREj

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) July 11, 2024

As of July 11th, it is anticipated that Biden will face more calls from within his party to leave the race.^[6] A poll published by ABC that day found 67 percent of voters want Biden to step aside,^[7] including 62 percent of voters who lean Democrat. As of July 11th, the New York Times^[3] has tallied 11 Democratic members of the House of Representatives and one Democratic senator who has formally called on Biden to drop out.

Biden Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election

On July 21st, 2024, Joe Biden announced in a letter posted to Twitter / X^[8] that he would not seek reelection. He promised he would address the decision further at a later date (shown below).

In a second tweet, he endorsed Kamala Harris for President^[9] (shown below).

Related Memes

Kamala 2024 / Coconut-pilled

Kamala 2024 refers to online support for Vice President Kamala Harris if she were to contest in the 2024 United States Presidential Election. After support for President Joe Biden faltered after the first debate between him and Donald Trump in late June 2024 and the Supreme Court decision to bolster immunity for presidents, progressives skeptical of Biden's capacity to contest the upcoming election began sharing memes and jokes in support of a possible Kamala for President campaign. KHive activity, both ironic and sincere, began to rise on X / Twitter in early July 2024.

Some online dubbed this phenomenon getting Coconut-pilled, inspired by Harris' infamous "Fell out Of a Coconut Tree" quote, signaling that those who are "coconut-pilled" are embracing Harris' bizarre tics and weirdness.

Search Interest

External References