Biden’s Historic 2024 Exit: Historians Unpack Legacy and Party Fallout

One year ago, on July 21, 2024, President Joe Biden made a historic and unprecedented move by announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, shaking the foundations of the Democratic Party and altering the course of the election. This decision, coming just weeks after a faltering debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27 in Atlanta, marked a rare moment in American political history.

Biden’s exit wasn’t just a personal choice; it was a response to mounting pressure from within his own party. Democratic leaders, concerned about his ability to campaign effectively after the debate, urged him to step aside. Initially resistant, Biden eventually conceded, stating it was in the best interest of both his party and the country to focus on his remaining presidential duties.

Historians and political analysts have been quick to weigh in on the implications of this late withdrawal. Tevi Troy, a presidential historian, noted that Biden’s reluctant exit and the way he handled his challenges will likely cast a long shadow over his legacy. Once seen as the figure who could stand against Trump, Biden now risks being remembered as the one who paved the way for his return. Meanwhile, Harvard’s Alex Keyssar highlighted the timing of the decision, suggesting that a withdrawal six months earlier could have spared the Democrats a costly misstep.

Few presidents have walked away from reelection campaigns midstream. Historical parallels include Harry S. Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson, who both stepped back under different pressures—Truman due to poor polling and Johnson amid the Vietnam War fallout. However, their decisions came much earlier in the campaign cycle, unlike Biden’s July exit, which threw the Democratic Party into chaos just months before the election.

Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor added another layer of intrigue to an already dramatic election season. Yet, the fallout continues, with books dissecting his final days in office and ongoing Capitol Hill investigations into his mental decline and executive actions. His approval ratings, once peaking at 57% early in his term, plummeted to a low of 36% by July 2024, reflecting public discontent.

Still, there’s a glimmer of hope for Biden’s legacy. Some historians predict that with time, the focus may shift to his achievements in office and his personal decency, softening the harsh judgments of today. For now, though, Biden’s exit remains a defining—and divisive—moment in political history.