KUALA LUMPUR – United States President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race earlier today and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, as the Democratic Party’s nominee.
“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your president. 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,” Biden said in a statement posted on social media.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Biden offered his “full support and endorsement” for Harris to replace him as the presidential candidate in the upcoming elections to be held on November 5, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
“Democrats, it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” he added.
Biden said he would address the nation later this week in more detail about his decision.
His candidature has been in the spotlight following his dismal performance against former president Donald Trump and Republican nominee in a presidential debate late last month.
Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, amid rising calls for Biden to withdraw from the race.
Later, in a statement, Harris said she was honoured to have Biden’s endorsement, adding that her “intention is to earn and win this nomination.”
On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 21, 2024
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 travelled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. 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,” she said.
“We have 107 days until election day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win,” Harris wrote.
According to CNN, citing a source familiar with the issue, plans for Biden to withdraw from the race were put into action on Saturday night and finalised on Sunday.
Biden is still recovering from a Covid-19 diagnosis and is resting at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Meanwhile, Trump said that he will “remedy the damage” he attributed to Biden shortly after the US president announced his withdrawal from the race.
“Crooked Joe Biden was not fit to run for president and is certainly not fit to serve – and never was! He only attained the position of President through lies, fake news, and not leaving his basement,” said the former president on his platform, Truth Social.
BOOM! Donald Trump brings up a very good point. He is on FIRE today!!
— Steve 🇺🇸 (@SteveLovesAmmo) July 21, 2024
He is back in 2016 form! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/uHTyCvqQY8
Trump claimed that people around Biden, including his doctor and media knew that Biden was not capable of being president.
“And he wasn’t. And now, look what he’s done to our country, with millions of people coming across our border, totally unchecked and unvetted, many from prisons and mental institutions, and record numbers of terrorists.
“We will suffer greatly because of his presidency, but we will remedy the damage he has done very quickly. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said. – July 22, 2024