Joe Biden has pulled out of the 2024 presidential race.
In a development that sends the contest into unchartered territory, the US president announced that he will no longer be seeking a second term.
He has thrown his support behind Kamala Harris, urging Democrats to donate to her campaign as he stood down.
In a letter addressed to “my fellow Americans”, Mr Biden said it had been the “greatest honour of my life to serve as your president”.
“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 my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”
He has endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, saying: “Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”
Posting a link to her campaign fundraiser, he wrote: “f you’re with us, donate to her campaign.”
Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on 20 January 2025.
The seismic development comes after months of speculation about Mr Biden’s age and fitness to serve another four years – amid a series of high-profile gaffes and a disastrous debate performance.
Biden, 81, had previously insisted he was best placed to defeat Mr Trump in the upcoming election but had faced calls from within his own party to step aside.
As of Saturday night he had planned to stay in the race, but told senior staff on Sunday afternoon he was withdrawing, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Donald Trump has reacted to the news, telling Sky News’ US partner NBC News Mr Biden “should never have been” in the race.
“Joe Biden is the worst president in the history of the United States by far,” he said.
“There has never been a president who has done such damage to our country. From energy independence to letting in millions and millions of illegal immigrants.”
A source close to the president recently admitted “we’re close to the end” after Barack Obama, the former president who picked Mr Biden as his vice-president during his two terms in office, reportedly shared his concerns about his ally’s re-election bid.
Biden tested positive for COVID while on the campaign trail, with mild symptoms including “general malaise”.
Attention will now turn to who will succeed him, with the selection likely to happen at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Biden’s statement
Here’s what the US president wrote in the letter in which he announced he is dropping out of the presidential race:
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR. July 21, 2024
“My Fellow Americans, Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
“Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
“I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your 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 my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
“I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
“For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me. I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.”
