US President Joe Biden has announced that he will end his candidacy for re-election, saying “it is in the best interest of my party and the country”.
It comes four months before Americans go to the polls, upending the race for the White House.
It follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats after a faltering debate performance against Republican Donald Trump at the end of June.
In a letter posted to his social media account, he said it had been the greatest honour of his life to serve as president.
“And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling the duties as President for the remainder of my term”.
He said in his statement he would address the nation on the matter next week.
President Biden thanked his Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she was an “extraordinary partner”.
In full: Biden’s endorsement of Kamala Harris
Here’s Biden’s statement on Harris in full, which he posted on X moments ago:
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President.
And it’s been the best decision I’ve made.
Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump.
Let’s do this.
Biden endorses Kamala Harris
Joe Biden has just announced that he’s endorsing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the US 2024 presidential race, in a post on X.
“Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he writes on X.
What comes next?published at 19:0819:08
Democrats now have to choose a new nominee. We know they had scheduled a roll-call vote to formally nominate Biden for some time after 1 August. This could now be cancelled.
Their convention is in Chicago Monday, 19 August, through Thursday, 22 August. Biden swept the primaries, meaning that the delegates representing each state at the convention were pledged to vote for him.
They will be released to vote for another candidate.
We don’t know much about the process from there – specifically how the delegates will choose the next nominee. The president has said he believes that Vice-President Kamala Harris is up for the job.
Biden to stay on as president until November electionpublished at 19:3319:33
More from Biden’s statement now.
He says although he’s dropping out of the presidential race, he’s not stepping down as US president and will stay in the White House for the final six months of his term.
“I believe it is in my best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term,” he writes.
As a reminder, the US presidential election is on 5 November – the winner serves four years.
Biden has put the country first – Schumerpublished at 19:3119:31
Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says today shows President Joe Biden is a “true patriot and great American”.
In a post on X, external, he says: “Joe Biden has not only been a great president and a great legislative leader but he’s a truly amazing human being.
“His decision of course was not easy, but he once again put his country, his party, and our future first.”
SOURCE: BBC NEWS
