Over 25 days, the presidential race has been reshaped in historic proportions with an attempted assassination on one candidate and with the other dropping out of the race.
June 27: Biden and Trump debate in Atlanta, with many Democrats panning Biden’s poor performance and several former elected officials and Democratic political advisers suggesting he should drop out of the race.
June 28: At a rally in North Carolina, Biden acknowledges his poor debate performance saying: “I know I’m not a young man. … I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know — I know how to tell the truth.” He vows to fight on. “When you get knocked down, you get back up,” he says.
July 2: Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, becomes first Democratic member of Congress to call for Biden to withdraw from the race. Ultimately, dozens more will follow.
July 5: In interview with ABC News, Biden insists he will remain in the race. “If the Lord Almighty came down and said, ‘Joe, get outta the race,’ I’d get outta the race. The Lord Almighty’s not comin’ down,” he says.
July 7: Four more congressional Democrats call for Biden to leave the race.
July 8: Biden calls into MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” saying, “I’m not going anywhere,” as Democratic leaders, progressives and members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they’re standing behind him.
July 11: Biden holds a news conference after the NATO summit, answering questions about policy but also mistakenly calling Vice President Harris “Vice President Trump.” Biden tells reporters, “I’ve got to finish this job, because there’s so much at stake.”
July 13: An assassination attempt injures Trump in Pennsylvania. Shortly before the assassination attempt, Biden had held tense private calls with Democratic lawmakers.
July 15: In an interview with NBC News’ Lester Holt, Biden vows he’s not leaving the contest: “It’s essentially a toss-up race.” Earlier in the day, as Republicans begin their convention, Trump announces his running mate will be Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
July 17: In Nevada, Biden tests positive for Covid and heads to his home in Delaware to isolate.
July 18: NBC News reports Biden feels personally hurt and betrayed by how top Democrats — including former President Barack Obama — have wavered on his campaign.
July 21: Biden announces he will the leave race and endorses Harris to be the party’s nominee.