In a surprising turn of events, 81-year-old Joe Biden has dropped out of the US presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee — a move that upends the 2024 race for the White House.
Known for his performance in the Obama administration and his blue collar upbringing, Biden became the 46th US president in 2020. At a time when the country was reeling from a pandemic and was deeply divided, Biden promised to bring stability back to America’s divided political system.
However, his promise was marred by his poor foreign policy choices and poorly handled media appearances following the October 7 attack. His inability to put an end to the conflict and stop the increasingly radical Israel over the last few months has left a permanent stain on his reputation.
Biden’s move is a historic first since 1968. He is the first sitting president to give up his party’s nomination for re-election since President Lyndon Johnson in March 1968 — leaving his replacement with less than four months to wage a campaign.
From a young ambitious senator to US president, here are the highlights of Biden’s career.
Joe Biden poses in his first official Senate portrait, January 1973. Courtesy US Senate — Reuters
President-elect Barack Obama sits with Vice President-elect Joe Biden as they meet with their economic advisory team in Chicago, November 7, 2008 — Reuters
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden wave to the mayors of US cities in the audience prior to addressing the US Conference of Mayors in the East Room of the White House in Washington January 21, 2010. — Reuters
President Barack Obama gestures with Vice President Joe Biden after his election night victory speech in Chicago, November 6, 2012 — Reuters
President Barack Obama turns down Vice President Joe Biden’s offer to buy his lunch at a sandwich shop near the White House in Washington, October 4, 2013 — Reuters
President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden after Biden announced he will not seek the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination during an appearance in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington October 21, 2015 — Reuters
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walk back to the Oval Office after speaking about the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the nationwide availability of tax subsidies that are crucial to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, at the White House in Washington June 25, 2015. — Reuters
Vice President Joe Biden points to President Barack Obama while Obama delivered his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington January 12, 2016 — Reuters
US President Donald Trump greets former Vice President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the US Capitol in Washington, US, January 20, 2017 — Reuters
Democratic 2020 US presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, May 18, 2019 — Reuters
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States as his wife Jill Biden holds a Bible on the West Front of the US Capitol — Reuters
US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on “how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will rebuild America’s bridges,” in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, US, January 14, 2022— Reuters
Democratic presidential candidate US President Joe Biden listens as Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump speaks during their debate in Atlanta, Georgia, US, June 27, 2024 — Reuters
Democratic candidate US President Joe Biden walks offstage with first lady Dr. Jill Biden at the conclusion of a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former US president Donald Trump, in Atlanta, Georgia, US, June 27, 2024 — Reuters
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