American President Joe Biden announced he will not run for the presidential election. He has withdrawn his candidacy from the Democratic Party and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. But this sudden decision has raised the question: Why did he make this choice? Let's take a look at the seven crucial mistakes that compelled him to withdraw his candidacy.
President Biden was the Democratic Party's nominee for president for the second consecutive time and was actively campaigning. However, his advanced age and health problems were worsened by his debate with Trump. After this debate, the pressure on him increased. In the past few months, several images and videos on social media caused widespread embarrassment and led people to consider him unfit for the presidency.
1) The first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Republican nominee Trump took place last June, hosted by CNN. Trump dominated the debate, and Biden’s performance was notably poor. He failed to counter Trump's claims or present his own arguments effectively and frequently appeared confused. At times, he even forgot what he was saying.
Several videos from this TV debate went viral on social media, showing Biden freezing, mumbling, and appearing disoriented. Following this poor performance, the pressure on Biden to withdraw from the race increased. Former President Obama and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi requested him to step down from his candidacy.
2) Recently, at a NATO summit in Washington, President Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Zelensky as Putin and Vice President Kamala Harris as Vice President Trump. During the NATO meeting, Biden corrected himself after mistakenly calling Zelensky “President Putin” and emphasized his focus on defeating Putin.
3) During the G7 meeting in Puglia, Italy, a video of Biden behaving unusually drew significant attention. In this video, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had to step in to guide Biden as he wandered away from the group and engaged in odd behavior, standing in the opposite direction of other leaders and talking to himself.
4) Last June, President Biden participated in the graduation ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. After handing out diplomas and shaking hands with graduates, Biden stumbled and fell as he walked away. Due to his age, he was unable to get up by himself and required assistance from Secret Service agents.
5) At the recent G7 meeting in Italy, there was another incident where President Biden was caught on camera dozing off during the proceedings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was seated next to him, had to wake him up. This incident went viral on social media, drawing heavy criticisms.
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6) A viral social media video from last March showed Biden casually eating ice cream while discussing serious issues like the ceasefire in Gaza. His laid-back demeanor while addressing such significant matters drew widespread criticism.
7) At the beginning of the month, President Biden referred to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as a “Black man” during an interview. While discussing his administration’s work, he forgot Austin's name and used the racial descriptor instead.
Age-Related Concerns
Joe Biden, at 81 years old, is the oldest president in U.S. history. His age became a significant issue this time around. Opponents, including Trump, repeatedly attacked him over his age, creating a narrative that he was unfit for the role due to his advancing years. This narrative resonated with the general public, who felt that the presidency required a younger, more energetic individual.
Dementia, COVID-19, and Other Health Issues
President Biden's mental health has been a topic of constant discussion. Reports have repeatedly suggested that he might be suffering from dementia, arguing that his condition hampers his speech and causes him to forget what he intends to say. There have been several international visits where he was seen confused on stage. However, the White House has dismissed reports claiming that Biden has dementia.
During his campaign, Biden contracted COVID-19, which forced him to pause his campaign activities and quarantine himself.
Challenges of Biden's Administration
A large number of Americans believe that the Biden administration has failed over the past four years. The economy has struggled significantly, and the employment crisis has deepened.
Polls Predict a Trump Victory
Numerous polls concerning the U.S. presidential election consistently suggest that Biden is highly unlikely to beat Trump. Both government and independent polls show Trump leading, with Biden lagging far behind. These survey results have caused considerable concern within the Democratic Party.
