Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race and endorses Kamala Harris
Watch: Joe Biden has dropped out the 2024 US presidential race, Dan Rivers reports
Joe Biden has announced he will withdraw from the 2024 US presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace his as the Democratic Party nominee.
Following heavy pressure from within his own party to quit, amid questions about his mental capacity, the 81 year old confirmed his resignation on X.
“I believe it in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down,” he said.
The US president threw his weight behind his vice president to succeed him, but it is not a clear path to the nomination for Harris.
He said: "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."
But it will be down to 4,700 delegates to nominate his replacement, at the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago on August 19-22 - and Harris is likely to face competition.
The vice president said she was "honoured" to have Biden's endorsement, adding her "intention is to earn and win this nomination".
“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party —and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
“We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”
Trump was quick to comment following Biden's announcement, writing on his Truth Social platform: "Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for President, and is certainly not fit to serve - And never was!"
He added: "All those around him, including his Doctor and the Media, knew that he wasn’t capable of being President, and he wasn’t."
Biden, who remains at his Delaware beach house after being diagnosed with Covid-19 last week, said he would address the nation later this week to provide “detail” about his decision.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among world leaders to praise the president.
On X, he said: “I respect President Biden’s decision and I look forward to us working together during the remainder of his presidency.
“I know that, as he has done throughout his remarkable career, President Biden will have made his decision based on what he believes is in the best interests of the American people.”
Biden's announcement comes after he faced mounting pressure to stand down due to his health and age.
The criticism started when he faced Republican nominee and former president Trump in a much-criticised head-to-head TV debate.
Calls for his withdrawal from the presidential race have only grown in the wake of a series of gaffes, including at this month's Nato conference in which he introduced Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin".
Former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are both reported to have expressed concerns in recent days about the likelihood of Biden securing a second term in the White House.
Biden’s granddaughter said she is “proud” of how her grandfather served “our country”.
In a post to X, Naomi Biden, wrote: “I’m nothing but proud today of my Pop, our President, Joe Biden, who has served our country with every bit of his soul and with unmatched distinction.
“Not only has he been — and will continue to be — the most effective president of our lifetime, but he has likely already cemented himself as the most effective and impactful public servant in our nation’s history."
Former US president Bill Clinton and ex-secretary of state Hillary Clinton praised the president and endorsed Harris.
In a joint statement posted on Bill Clinton’s X account, they said: “President Biden has capped his extraordinary career of service with a presidency that has lifted America out of an unprecedented pandemic, created millions of new jobs, rebuilt a battered economy, strengthened our democracy, and restored our standing in the world."
They added: “We are honoured to join the president in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can to support her.
“We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term. He has promised to be a dictator on day one, and the recent ruling by his servile Supreme Court will only embolden him to further shred the constitution.
“Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.”
Despite questions over his health, Biden's doctor said in an official update on Sunday that the president’s vital signs remain “absolutely normal” in regards to having coronavirus.
Dr Kevin O’Connor said: “President Biden completed his eighth dose of Paxlovid this morning,” he said.
“His symptoms have improved significantly. His pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature remain absolutely normal.
“His oxygen saturation continues to be excellent on room air. His lungs remain clear.”
He added: “The President continues to tolerate treatment without any difficulty and will continue Paxlovid as planned. He continues to perform all of his presidential duties.”
A-list actors and Democratic Party supporters Mark Hamill and Barbra Streisand also praised Biden and thanked him for his service.
In a post to X, Star Wars actor Hamill, 72, said: “Joe Biden has a record of accomplishments unmatched by any president in our lifetime.
“He restored honesty, dignity and integrity to the office after four years of lies, crime, scandal and chaos.
“Thank you for your service, Mr President. It’s now our duty as patriotic Americans to elect the Democrat who will honour and further your legacy.”
Funny Girl star Streisand, 82, said in a post to X: “Joe Biden will go down in history as a man who accomplished significant achievements in his four-year term.
“We should be grateful for his upholding of our democracy.”
Pop star Ariana Grande shared Mr Biden’s post endorsing Kamala Harris as the new nominee of the Democratic Party.
A number of celebrities, including long-time Democrat George Clooney, called for Mr Biden to drop out of the race days after his debate against former president Mr Trump last month in which he gave a string of nonsensical answers.
He said in a New York Times opinion piece that the party would lose the presidential race as well as any control in Congress with him as the nominee.
It comes as Trump this week accepted the Republican Party's nomination, days after a failed assassination attempt on his life.
Biden ousted Trump from the White House during the 2020 presidential election - a result which led to the deadly January 6 riot in 2021.
Want an expert briefing on US politics and the presidential race? Listen to our latest podcast Talking Politics USA.