US President Joe Biden has announced that he will end his candidacy for re-election, upending the race for the White House four months before Americans go to the polls in November.
The decision follows weeks of intense pressure from fellow Democrats after a stumbling and sometimes incoherent debate performance against Republican Donald Trump at the end of June.
Despite mounting concerns over his mental fitness and ability to beat Trump, the 81-year-old had resisted calls to step aside.
In a post on X, President Biden announced his decision to end his re-election bid and endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential race.
Biden also confirmed that he will not step down as president and will remain in the White House for the final six months of his term. He stated, “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 my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement thanking President Biden for his extraordinary leadership and decades of service. She described his decision as a “selfless and patriotic act” and expressed her honor in receiving his endorsement.
President Biden’s decision comes after increasing calls for him to step aside following a faltering debate performance against Trump last month.
