The announcement came less than a month after the president’s disastrous debate performance in Atlanta, which led to some Democrats to call for his exit. He is the first sitting president to give up his party’s nomination for re-election since President Lyndon B Johnson during the Vietnam War in March 1968.
It also dovetails the conclusion of the Republican National Convention, when the Republican Party made a strong show of unity behind former president Trump, 78, after he was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Mr Biden, 81, made the announcement in a letter posted on X. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president,” he said. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
He added: “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he said. “Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Harris responded in her own statement, calling her service with Joe Biden for nearly four years an honour. “I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination. Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. 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,” said Mr Biden’s former running mate.
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