Isolating at a beach house, Biden gave aides one minute notice of exit

As recently as Saturday, the president's aides prepared a press release that will be prepared for him when he returns to the White House next week. Recovering from Covid at his home on the east side of Delaware, he insisted he was still running but all efforts were made to force him to stop. Public opinion has begun. 

 On Sunday morning, the president reversed his decision, the source said, in fact how the day turned out. 

 On Saturday night, Mr. Biden began thinking about leaving, one of the most difficult decisions he has made in his 50 years in politics. He retained a handful of aides, including Steve Richetti, one of his closest advisers, chief strategy officer Mike Donilon, deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal, chief of staff to First Lady Jill Biden. 

. Mr. Donilon, another aide who played an important role in some of the president's legislative decisions, joined on Saturday. Biden and his aides spoke highly of the new polling data and discussed whether Donald Trump could win the current polls. With new information and confirmation of another escape every week in the group, the president will make a decision. He worked with Mr. Donilon and drafted a significant statement ending his appointment, while Richetti worked on the details of the announcement and informed other officials. 

 Biden made the final decision to leave, calling Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, Jen O'Malley Dillon and Vice President Kamala Harris to update them at Sunday's event. he told the alkhabrfdakika. 

 At 1:45 p.m. A minute later, he released a public statement that shocked American politics and promoted the 2024 election. 

 "He said he was thinking about it two days ago," one person said. a senior White House official told the BBC. "It was a tough decision." 

 Although Mr. Biden did not mention Mrs. Harris in his first speech, he tweeted his support for his vice president half an hour later. According to two sources familiar with the conversation, they spoke several times a day until the surprise announcement was made. 

 The president's wife, who is the president's closest adviser and believes that his advice was the reason for his decision, said in a statement that she supported his departure.

"Until the last hour of the decision, which only she could make, she supported it regardless of the way it was taken," said Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady's press secretary. "He is a great supporter, he is a champion, and he is always by his side. This trust can only be given to a couple who are almost 50 years old." Many people in the White House and the campaign did not know Mr. Biden's plans in advance. Many people have learned about post on social media. Mr. Zients, the president's chief of staff, spoke with White House staff and sent all West Wing staff to confirm the announcement and thank them for their hard work. He also held a meeting with the Secretaries of the President. Mr. Biden, on the other hand, is talking to many members of the Democratic Party, governors and supporters, according to a statement from the White House. He planned to continue calling Sunday and Monday nights, the statement said. Kamala Harris, who said she wants to "get and win" the presidential nomination, called on lawmakers including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, congressional leaders and governors Sunday afternoon to rally support for his appointment. Although he has already received the support of the president and the leaders of the Democrats, his highest position is not certain until the representatives vote to replace Mr. Biden at the Democratic National Convention in August. Notably, former President Barack Obama did not publicly endorse it, but Bill and Hillary Clinton did. During the campaign called on Sunday afternoon, while many are still digesting the news, officials said that this group will be a "full promotion" for the vice president. "All of us, all of us, wherever we come from, we are here for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and defeating Donald Trump. Although today is a great day of change, nothing will change why you stay here and 'I'm here. , to do it,'" press director Jen O'Malley Dillon said, according to a person familiar with the call. "But moving forward is the only way we can do this together."